Climate change and sustainable energy

• The major cause of global warming is the combustion of fossil fuels and subsequent emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
• Reductions in man made greenhouse gas emissions are imperative to halt the rise in global temperatures and the negative impact this will have on our climate       

UK energy policy dictates that we need a sustainable energy future, both environmentally (to put the UK on a path to cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 60% by 2050), and economically (to ensure our energy supplies help raise economic growth and improve productivity in the UK and beyond). In addition, our energy supply needs to be secure, reliable and affordable.

The only way to achieve these goals is through conservation of current supplies and the development of new technologies. The chemical sciences will play a key role as they can provide many of the answers to these challenges. 

How can the chemical sciences:

• manage waste products from energy production?
• help to reduce the energy demand of domestic living?
• reduce our reliance on imported energy?