Delivering net zero - the role of research

英国需要继续从高碳社会快速过渡到温室气体排放接近于零的社会。至关重要的是，来自多个学科的最佳证据和见解可用于指导如此快速的过渡。由于过渡的速度之快，令人严重关切的是，在作出决定时可能没有利用现有的最佳科学证据，也没有认识到需要采用一种完整的系统方法。多年来，EPSRC与其他研究委员会一起资助了开发新的低碳技术的研究。它们还资助了一些中心，这些中心采用跨学科的方法，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相关者的能源和气候政策决策产生了许多显著影响，但这些影响往往是零碎的，并且高度依赖于个人建立的网络。学术界从来没有以协调一致的声音向决策者提供关于快速减少英国排放所需的基本变化的清晰度，而外部利益相关者目前正在努力获取和利用可以为其决策提供信息的研究。由于学科和部门之间在如何构建和理解问题方面存在潜在差异，因此永远不可能完全达成共识，但重要的是要提供空间，探讨目前存在共识和分歧的地方，同时也要提供对指导应对气候危机的各种潜在范例的见解。该项目采用协商的方法在利益相关者之间建立共识和分歧，这种方法越来越被认为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通知和指导英国决策者对气候变化的反应。到项目结束时，将由英国领先的学者和其他人制定一个共同的愿景，概述短期（未来10年）和长期（未来10年）的净零排放。它还将确定那些无法达成共识的领域，阐明进一步的研究、更广泛的参与或政治干预在哪些方面可以优先考虑关键的道德原则或有争议的价值观，从而有助于缓解这种冲突。期望的结果是创造这样一种局面，即英国在最先进的气候缓解研究的基础上做出迅速但最重要的有力决定。虽然该项目以实现影响为中心，但我们将开发一种基于审议方法的稳健方法，以确保学术出版物的产出。该项目为推进方法、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提供了机会。

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.