Powering the Future
Mapping our low carbon path to 2050
Powering the Future is a comprehensive report by global engineering consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff. It focuses on the implications of meeting the UK government's carbon reduction targets for 2050 and highlights critical steps for tackling CO2 reduction.
To protect the wellbeing of future generations, urgent action is vital to manage carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and reduce the likelihood of climate change. This presents a major challenge to the UK and its economy, which already faces less reliable supplies with many power stations scheduled to retire in the next decade.
The UK government has consulted on various strategies to meet the climate change challenge. It has adopted a position of leadership, committing to an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. It has initiated work by the Climate Change Committee and received support from a wide range of interest groups and consultancies. The recently published UK Low Carbon Transition Plan and the UK Renewable Energy Strategy define a way forward to delivering the 34% reduction required to meet the first carbon budget for 2020. A roadmap for the period from 2020 to 2050 is being developed within government.
Powering the Future is the product of two years of independent study by a multi-disciplinary team of senior engineers at Parsons Brinckerhoff. The report centres on how the UK can meet the government's commitment of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. It highlights the critical steps that must be taken across the UK economy and explores what actions will have the greatest effect across the transport, domestic, industry, commercial and electricity sectors.
The full report and a summary version, available free for download below, provides context and background information. It also summarises our key findings and sector information including essential areas for further independent work and government action.
The Report
The following PDF documents are available to view and download:
More Information
Maria Laffey
laffeym@pbworld.com