Evidence and research: science and economics
- Latest news
- Science of climate change
- Government's research programme
- Other research
- Further information
Latest news
- Climate change in Our World - collaboration between Google, UK Government, the Met Office Hadley Centre and the British Antarctic Survey to develop animations for Google Earth (19 May 2008)
- Consultation on the Climate Change Simplification project (December 2007)
The science of climate change
A summary of the science of climate change, how the climate has changed and may change in the future as a result of human activity, and agreements and progress on dealing with greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances can be found at:
The Government's research programme
The Government commissions research to support the development of the policy response to man-made climate change.
Hadley Centre
Funds a Climate Prediction Programme at the Met Office's Hadley Centre which also underpins the Government's climate change policy.
In 2006 Defra and the Ministry of Defence jointly funded an independent review of the Hadley Centre. The results of the review conclude that its climate science is world leading and unique, represents excellent value for money and provides excellent policy relevant scientific outputs to UK Government clients.
The use of “super computers” to run long simulations of the Earth’s climate underpins much of the science output and resulting policy advice of the Hadley Centre. Reflecting this critical role, a distinct element of the overall review was focused on the supercomputing provision and exploitation.
- Hadley Centre
- Hadley Centre review (May 2007, PDF 850 KB)
- Hadley Centre super computing review (PDF 400 KB)
UK Climate Impacts Programme
The Government sponsors the UK Climate Impacts Programme, set up in 1997. The programme has attracted large numbers of representatives from both public and private sector organisations who have participated in regional and sector assessments.
Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer
The Government contributes to the development of the Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) satellite instrument (to measure highly accurate sea surface temperatures) on the European Space Agency's ENVISAT satellite.
Other research
The UK supports research which will help developing countries deal with climate change. Current research includes an assessment of how to improve climate modelling and monitoring for Africa, and an investigation into the impacts of climate change on Chinese agriculture.
The UK also plays a significant role in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which has carried out major studies into the science, impacts and response measures to climate change since it was set up in 1988.
Climate Change Simplification
Along with the publication of Defra’s simplification plan in November 2006, the department decided to undertake a review of non-fiscal instruments used to tackle climate change. A confirmation of the review was included in the 2007 Energy White Paper.
The scope of the review was to look at the overlap between Defra’s three major climate change instruments – EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), Climate Change Agreements (CCAs), and the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) – with a view to eliminating avoidable overlap, simplifying existing regulations, and ensuring that the regulatory burden on the economy is kept to a minimum.
While the policy framework continues to develop over time, the government is committed to looking strategically at the overall regulatory burden and developing a policy framework that delivers emissions reduction objectives with minimum regulatory requirements.
MARKAL Modelling the long-run costs of climate change mitigation
As part of further work examining the impact of the emissions reduction targets proposed in the Climate Change Bill, Defra has commissioned a further study using the MARKAL-Macro model to consider the additional impacts (economic and technological) of reducing UK CO2 emissions by 70 per cent and 80 per cent by 2050. The study also assesses the impact of including emissions from international aviation, and the implications for abatement in other sectors under a 60 per cent constraint in 2050. This analysis builds on modelling conducted for the Government’s Energy White paper, published in May 2007.
Cross-Regional Research Programme
The Cross-Regional Research Programme aims to assess the impacts of climate change and adaptation. Seven projects under this programme are investigating how climate change will affect different sectors, through focused research at the regional level. The programme was launched on 30 September 2004.
Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change
In February 2005 the UK Government hosted an international scientific conference that took an in-depth look at the scientific issues associated with stabilising the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level which avoids dangerous anthropogenic climate change. The scientific findings of Conference have been consolidated into the book “Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change”. You can read the book:
The cost of carbon
In 2002, a Government Economic Service working paper 'Estimating the Social Cost of Carbon Emissions' was published as a joint Defra-Treasury publication. The Defra-chaired Inter-departmental Group on the social cost of carbon (IGSCC) was set up in 2003 to take forward the review of the social cost of carbon. The IGSCC commissioned further research on the issue.
Emissions Trading Schemes
There is some research into potential impacts of the inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS.
Further information
Page last modified: 19 May 2008
Page published: 01 December, 2005