Delivering net zero - the role of research

英国需要继续从高碳社会向温室气体排放接近于零的社会快速转型。至关重要的是，有来自多个学科的最佳可用证据和见解来指导如此快速的过渡。由于过渡的速度，人们严重关切的是，作出决定时可能没有利用现有的最佳科学证据，也没有认识到需要一个完整的系统办法。多年来，EPSRC与其他研究委员会一起，为开发新的低碳技术的研究提供资金。它们还资助了采用跨学科方法的中心，以了解能源系统的必要变化以及实现减排的更广泛的社会和经济影响。虽然这项资助的研究对政府和其他利益攸关方内部与能源和气候政策相关的决策产生了许多显著影响，但这些影响往往是零碎的，高度依赖于个人开发的网络。学术界从未协调一致地向决策者发出声音，让他们清楚地了解迅速减少英国排放所需的基本变化，而外部利益攸关方目前难以访问和利用能够为他们的决策提供参考的研究。虽然完全达成共识永远不可能，但由于各学科和部门在如何框架和理解问题方面存在根本差异，重要的是提供空间来探索目前存在共识和分歧的地方，同时还提供对指导不同应对气候危机的基本范式的洞察。该项目采用深思熟虑的方法，在利益相关者之间形成共识和分歧点，并越来越多地认识到这种方法是帮助制定能源和气候政策的宝贵工具。该项目的目的是确保由UKRI能源和脱碳计划资助的研究有最大的机会向英国决策者提供信息和指导他们对气候变化的反应。到该项目结束时，英国主要学者和其他人将制定一个共同的愿景，概述短期(未来10年)和长期(未来10年)净零的叙事。它还将找出那些无法达成共识的领域，澄清进一步的研究、更广泛的参与或政治干预，以确定关键伦理原则或有争议的价值观的优先顺序，可能有助于帮助此类冲突。期望的结果是创造一种局面，让英国做出的快速但最重要的可靠决定得到最先进的气候缓解研究的指导。虽然该项目的中心是实现影响，但我们将制定一种以审议方法为基础的可靠方法，以确保学术出版物的产出。该项目提供了推进方法、探索在决策中使用证据以及与不同利益攸关方接触的动态的机会。

The UK needs to continue the rapid transition from a high carbon society to one where GHG emissions are close to zero. It is essential that the best available evidence and insights from multiple disciplines are available to guide such a rapid transition. Due to the speed of the transition, there is a serious concern that decisions could be made without drawing on the best available scientific evidence and without appreciating the need for a whole systems approach. For many years, the EPSRC, along with other Research Councils, have funded research to develop new low carbon technologies. They have also funded centres that have adopted an inter-disciplinary approach to appreciate the necessary changes in the energy system and the wider social and economic implications of achieving emissions reductions. While this funded research has had many notable impacts on decisions related to energy and climate policy within Government and other stakeholders, these are often piecemeal and highly dependent on the networks developed by individuals.The academic community has never spoken with a coordinated voice to provide clarity to decision makers on the essential changes required to rapidly reduce UK emissions, while external stakeholders currently struggle to access and exploit the research that can inform their decisions. While a full consensus would never be entirely possible, due to underlying differences across disciplines and sectors in how to frame and understand the problem, it is important to provide space to explore where consensus and disagreements does currently exist, while also providing insights into the underlying paradigms that guide diverse responses to the climate crisis.This project employs deliberative methods to develop points of consensus and disagreement among stakeholders, and approach that is becoming increasingly recognised as a valuable tool to help develop both energy and climate policy. The aim of this project is to ensure that the research funded by the UKRI Energy and Decarbonisation Programme has the maximum opportunity to inform and guide the response of UK decision makers to climate change. By the end of the project, a shared vision will be developed that outlines a narrative for net zero in the short term (next 10 years) and the long term (the following 10 years) by leading UK academics and others. It will also identify those areas in which consensus cannot be achieved, clarifying where further research, wider engagement, or political interventions to prioritise key ethical principles or contested values, might serve to help such conflict. The desired outcome is to create a situation whereby rapid but above all robust decisions made in the UK are informed by the most advanced research on climate mitigation. While the project is centred on achieving impact, we will develop a robust methodology based on deliberative methods to ensure the output of academic publications. The project offers opportunities to advance methodologies, explore the use of evidence in decision making and the dynamics of engaging with diverse stakeholders.