CRedKeith Tovey M.A., PhD, CEng, MICE, CEnv

Energy Science Director: Low Carbon Innovation CentreSchool of Environmental Sciences, UEA

Keith ToveyLay Chairman – Norwich East

Diocescan Synod - 18th March 2006

Climate Change – The Greatest Threat to Mankind?Hard Choices Ahead

Climate ChangeArctic meltdown 1979 - 2003

Source: Nasa www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/1023esuice.html

20% reduction in 24 years20031979

CRed

Summer ice coverage of Artic Polar Region

NASA satellite imagery

2/10

Do we want to exploit available renewables i.e onshore/offshore wind and biomass.

Photovoltaics, tidal, wave are not options for next 20 years.

If our answer is NO

Do we want to see a renewal of nuclear power ?

Are we happy on this and the other attendant risks?

If our answer is NO

Do we want to return to using coal? •then carbon dioxide emissions will rise significantly

•unless we can develop carbon sequestration within 10 years UNLIKELY

If our answer to coal is NO

Do we want to leave things are they are and see continued exploitation of gas for both heating and electricity generation? >>>>>>

Our Choices: They are difficult

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Our Choices: They are difficult

If our answer is YES

By 2020 • we will be dependent on GAS

for around 70% of our heating and electricity

imported from countries like Russia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Algeria

Are we happy with this prospect? >>>>>>

If not:

We need even more substantial cuts in energy use.

Or are we prepared to sacrifice our future to effects of Global Warming? - the North Norfolk Coal Field?

Do we wish to reconsider our stance on renewables?

Inaction or delays in decision making will lead us down the GAS option route and all the attendant Security issues that raises.

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How many people know what 9 tonnes of CO2 looks like?

5 hot air balloons per person per year.

Around 4 million in he Norfolk

On average each person in UK causes the emission of 9 tonnes of CO2 each year.

"Nobody made a greater mistake

than he who did nothing because he thought he could do only a little."

Edmund Burke (1727 – 1797)

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Raising Awareness

• Computers do NOT switch off when using the soft “SHUT DOWN”. Typically they will waste 60 kg CO2 a year.

• A Toyota Corolla (1400cc): 1 party balloon every 60m.

• 10 gms of carbon dioxide has an equivalent volume of 1 party balloon.

• Standby on electrical appliances 80+ kWh a year - 4000 balloons.

• A Mobile Phone charger: > 20 kWh per year ~ 1000 balloons each year.

• Filling up with petrol (~£35 for a full tank – 40 litres) --------- 90 kg of CO2 (5% of one hot air balloon)

How far does one have to drive in a small family car (e.g. 1300 cc Toyota Corolla) to emit as much carbon dioxide as heating an old persons room for 1 hour?

1.6 miles6/10

Solar Energy - The BroadSol Project: Involving the Community

Annual Solar Gain 910 kWh

Solar Collectors installed 27th January 2004

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Hard ChoicesWhat can we as individuals do?What can you do collectively as a Church?

Visit the CRed WEB Site

Sign a pledge to• combat global warming• help secure a sustainable environment for our children• help reduce the adverse impacts of Global Warming• help secure energy supplies for the future

saving energy

Adopting technical solutionsPromoting Awareness

Promoting appropriate renewable energy

www.cred-uk.org

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• Global Warming will affect us all - in next few decades

• Energy Security will become increasingly important. Inaction over making difficult decisions now will make Energy Insecurity more likely in future.

• Move towards energy conservation and LOCAL generation of energy

It is as much about the individual’s response to use of energy as any technical measures the Government may take.

• Wind (and possibly biomass) are the only real alternatives for renewable generation in next 5 – 10 years.

Otherwise Nuclear ??? (but accessible uranium is limited)

• Even if we are not convinced about Global Warming – Energy Security issues will shortly start to affect us. >>

Conclusions

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WEBSITE www.cred-uk.org

This presentation will be available from tomorrow: follow Academic Resources link

• Need to act now otherwise we might have to make choice of whether we drive 1.6 miles or heat an old person’s room

Conclusions

Are you up to the Challenge?: Will you make a pledge?

Lao Tzu (604-531 BC) Chinese Artist and Taoist philosopher

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."

Act of Commitment• As we celebrate the goodness, diversity and wonder of God’s creation, we admit

our collective guilt in allowing species to become so swiftly extinct, in depleting finite energy and raw materials, and in polluting the earth’s soil, water and atmosphere. Let us be ready to change the way we think and live.

• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come.

• Let us commit ourselves, as individuals and within our churches, to do all we can to heal and restore the damage people have caused to God’s earth, and to develop sustainable lifestyles, both for ourselves and to inspire others.

• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come.

• Let us commit ourselves to do all in our power to support church communities planning a better way of living in their localities.

• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come.

Act of Commitment• Let each of us commit ourselves to play our part and take what action we can to cherish God’s creation.

• Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come.

We pledge to pray and work for an environmentally sustainable and socially just world, in

the interest of all earth’s Inhabitants, both present and future generations, and for the well-

being and flourishing of the whole earth.