TRANSrisk Newsletter: Issue #10, November 2017

	TRANSition Pathways and RISK Analysis for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
Issue #10 November 2017

TRANSrisk is an exciting new EU Horizon 2020 project studying the risks and uncertainties that lie ahead as we transition to a low carbon world. Our work examines the technical, economic and social feasibility of potential low carbon transition pathways. The project's outputs will help countries develop NDCs that complement socio-economic goals and assess risks and uncertainties associated with their potential pathways.

TRANSrisk Side Events at COP23
TRANSrisk participated at the 23^rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) and organised 2 side events presenting results from case studies in Canada, Indonesia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Implementing NDCs: Diversity of Actors and Actions

Monday, 06 Nov 2017

This event, jointly organised by TRANSrisk and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), explored the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation challenges through the presentation of two case studies from TRANSrisk. The first case study explored decarbonising opportunities for the building sector in Shanghai and the second studied biogas applications in Indonesia. The highlights are summarised below.

Results of the TRANSrisk case study in China

Low carbon development strategies are already established in Shanghai to reduce carbon emissions, which shows that climate action at bottom level is mainly driven by facts, such as the noticeable air pollution, rather than NDCs and high level policies.

China will modify education for all citizens to promote low-carbon way of life. Public institutes will lead in this initiative by building renovations, increasing in this way sustainability.

Air Pollution (Smog) in Shanghai

Results of the TRANSrisk case study in Indonesia

Indonesia has already four biogas programmes. Along with literature review and individual interviews, the TRANSrisk case study has highlighted several important points:

The right policies and non-conflicting targets are needed;
the technology options should be adapted to locality, climate and user needs;
the user perspective has to be taken into account;
the economic co-benefits, in terms of energy efficiency and job creation, are very important in propagating biogas technologies.

The future of nuclear, oil sands and renewables: risky energy pathways?

Thursday, 09 Nov 2017

This side event presented a collection of three case studies that explored risks in different energy sectors within the context of three countries:

⇒ the nuclear power sector in UK;

⇒ the oil sands in the province of Alberta, Canada;

⇒ the renewable energy in Switzerland.

The risks of each energy policy pathway were assessed at the (sub)national level by applying energy, economy, technology and climate models, as well as including a range of stakeholder perspectives and inputs to account for the complex interactions between the environment and human dimension.

Publication on achieving Kenya’s NDC

TRANSrisk partners Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) have developed an interesting discussion brief which presents the TRANSrisk case study in Kenya. The case study explores transition pathways regarding the decarbonisation of energy sector and particularly, by exploiting geothermal power and decreasing charcoal use.

The brief examines fundamental questions about development priorities and trade-offs facing Kenya as it debates how to achieve its NDC.

Download the full publication here!

Sunrise over Lake Turkana Wind Power project in Marsabit Country © SEI

Survey on low-emission pathway preferences of stakeholders

The focus of the survey is on mitigation measures in the energy sector at a global level.

As a stakeholder, you are cordially invited to participate in this survey in your personal capacity. Your views will be treated anonymously and will not be used for any other purpose than for this study. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes.

In order to participate in the survey click here.