Energy and Climate Change

There is a consensus within the international scientific community that rising levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity are driving climate change. There are stark warnings about the consequences if governments, businesses and individuals don’t act quickly. Political consensus is also growing about the need to respond to the challenge of climate change.

The European Union, UK and other national governments have announced ambitious long-term GHG reduction targets and new policies to reduce emissions and adapt to the inevitable consequences of climate change. Rising oil prices, increasing concerns about energy security, and changing consumer expectations are also driving governments and businesses to adopt new ways of using energy more efficiently, and to consider the wider issues of sustainability.

AEA can draw on over three decades of experience in helping the public and private sectors address these challenges. AEA provides the public sector with advice, analysis and insight to design, implement and evaluate energy policies. Hence, AEA is at the forefront of efforts by businesses and governments at all levels to understand the implications of climate change and to develop policies and strategies to reduce GHG emissions. We understand the implementation of technologies and behaviours needed to survive, thrive and remain competitive in a low carbon economy.

AEA is also active internationally, with a strong track record of successful project delivery, particularly China, Russia and Eastern Europe.

Understanding The Market Context

Growing concern over climate change and energy security have led to a raft of policies and regulations covering electricity generation, energy efficiency and renewable energy. At the European level, key initiatives include the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Directives on pollution control, Renewables, Cogeneration, Energy-Using Products, the Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Services, and the White Paper on Adaptation. These initiatives have been or will be implemented by the UK Government, along with additional national policies such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) for non - energy intensive businesses and public sector organisations, Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) on energy suppliers to improve household energy efficiency, the Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) with industry and the Zero Carbon Homes initiative.

The solutions to the challenges in energy and climate change often require expertise in the wider environmental context, e.g air quality, waste, resource efficiency. AEA can provide expert advice on all the related issues.

Our Principal Services

AEA has been working closely with the European Commission, the UK Government and the UK Regulators on the design and implementation of most of these policies. The analysis and advice that we provide ensures a sound evidence base, leading to more effective and better targeted policies. For example, we are Defra’s lead technical consultants on the CCAs and the CRC and lead on Combined Heat and Power (CHP) policy advice. We have built on our public sector heritage and knowledge of policy, regulation, technology and behavioural change to become one of the largest providers of carbon and energy consultancy to the UK private sector.

In the private sector, we provide board level support to help companies understand their carbon emissions and energy and climate change related risks. As a result of this, we are uniquely placed to help them implement changes, whilst understanding the need to maintain profitability and to monitor progress in achieving environmental and financial goals. Our business customers have voted us number one climate change and energy consultancy for the last three years in the EDIE survey. We also manage major Government programmes on energy efficiency, sustainable construction, renewables, CHP, clean coal, carbon capture and storage and other emerging energy technologies.

Best in Class Resource Capabilities

AEA has over 200 specialists in energy and climate change. These include national and international experts in climate change policy, low carbon technologies, carbon management, emissions trading, climate change driven business strategy and greenhouse gas inventories. Our experts regularly represent the UK on European and international working groups, including representing the UK Government at European Commission Committees, and three employees recently were cited by the UN for our contribution to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Such experience gives us unique insights into upcoming issues and likely policies and regulations.

Meet Our Knowledge Leaders in Energy and Climate Change

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