Comments for Global Environment & Society Academy

Comment on Energy systems modelling: models and the real world by Joe DeCarolis

Joe DeCarolis — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 16:51:18 +0000

Nice article! Along these lines, I recently published a paper with several colleagues from UCL titled “Formalizing best practice for energy system optimization modelling”: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917302192

We tried to cover this topic in some detail.

Comment on Energy systems modelling: models and the real world by Chris Dent

Chris Dent — Thu, 25 May 2017 13:27:26 +0000

In reply to Simon Shackley.

A brief reply on this – thanks for your kind words on my article! My understanding is that TIMES is an evolution of MARKAL (it stands for “The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System”.) However my point is rather broader – when thinking on planning timescales there are many aspects of the real world (including those you name) which cannot be considered in tractable optimization problems, or where accurate data are not available. The question is how, given this inconvenient truth, we can best use modelling to help make decisions which we are confident will be good ones _in the real world_.

Comment on Energy systems modelling: models and the real world by Simon Shackley

Simon Shackley — Wed, 24 May 2017 11:41:26 +0000

Thanks for an interesting article Chris and you make very salient points. The earlier version of MARKAL seemed to rely upon linear optimisation which seems a misreading of economic thought, especially the emerging insights of evolutionary and behavioural economics. Optimisation fits better with the neo-classical view of economic processes, which we’ve now come to see as operating within a rather narrow set of conditions. Neo-classical economics fails to explain why customers don’t switch energy suppliers when there are cheaper tariffs available, but behavioural economics is more useful here. When it comes to technological change, evolutionary economics turns out to be much more useful that the neo-classical paradigm. The SG has been using the TIMES model in its energy and climate strategy but its not one I’ve looked at so don’t know whether it is in the same vein as MARKAL or has successfully responded to the critiques of the latter. Have you applied your thinking above to the TIMES model and could you say anything about that at this stage? I’d also be interested to know whether you’ve been conducting uncertainty analysis of the TIMES model?

Comment on Energy systems modelling: models and the real world by Sustainablefriends

Sustainablefriends — Tue, 23 May 2017 10:47:37 +0000

Hi! We invite you to join our community of conservation projects, environmental educational activities and ideas to help the environment http://www.sustainablefriends.com, so that you can participate and benefit in multiple ways.

Comment on Two sides of the climate change coin: climate science and policy after COP21 by Sabine

Sabine — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 14:49:03 +0000

Hello, the link for the article “Outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris” on the C2ES website doesn’t work, could it be updated?

Comment on Come rain or shine by Nikki

Nikki — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 08:08:45 +0000

I’ll try to put this to good use imeatimdely.

Comment on Low Carbon Travel by On the train: from Edinburgh to Nijmegen and back again. And again… | ablogoftwocitiesblog

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 08:44:01 +0000

[…] This post has also been published on the University of Edinburgh GESA blog here. […]

Comment on Keeping the Buzz on – Interdisciplinary Reflections on the Protection of Bees by SepasangMawar

SepasangMawar — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:50:12 +0000

In our area, “no one” is a full-time bee keeper but, there are many part-time, back yard bee keenpig businesses. Often these guys actively look for a place to place a hive/bee box or two. There are often local ordinances and regulations with respect to the placement of a bee hive. Again, these guys typically know what they are/how to find out, and what to do with respect to the regulatory process. In our area the bee guys assess the area in terms of problems that the bees could face as well as problems you could face. In times past, the bee hive host was paid in a bit of honey and comb; these arrangements were made at the time of the yard survey and before the bees arrive. They then deliver the boxes, tell you what to watch for, and what’s needed for mid-season maintenance. When the neighbor hosted bee hives, he was required to run the sprinkler in the evening to provide the bees a morning water source off of the vegetation. He was also told how to monitor for swarming activity; when the hive is full of honey a new queen is produced and she leaves the box with a swarm to start a new hive. In the neighbor’s case, he reported a difference in activity which was discounted as a novice’s observation until after the swarm; we got to see the swarm and it was impressive. The end result was that we had “wild” honey bees both of the domestic and mixed kind for several years into the future.The bee guys do all of the hard and technical work in our area. For example, when the bee activity starts to change pre-swarm the goal is to drain the original hive of most of the honey and prep a second box for the new queen. I think they do physical some transfer of comb and/or the queen to the second box. What can I say, they want as few folks standing around, in particular children, and in particular children with severe bee allergies. In the neighbor’s case, the bee guy prepared the boxes for winter and then took them away until spring. Mid-summer the neighbor shared his honey payment with us but, the comb didn’t come until fall after the winter preparations were done. I seem to remember that the neighbor had to do something one spring when there was a late frost to keep the hives warm. In terms of preparation, the bee guy did determine that there were enough flowers/pollen in the area to sustain the hive; he discounted the blackberries over the bank which is why they produced so much honey. He also determined how many of what type of chemicals were being used in the area; everyone was low to no chemical in the area at that time. With respect to regulation .the hives were located between the road and a wall of evergreens, then well under the fruit trees. The neighbors that might notice were quietly asked if they minded. The friends and neighbors that visited were asked to stay on the outside area marked with a few discrete stakes. The neighbors with fruit trees were glad to have the bees particularly since the hives were located beyond their own back yards. The hives were there on a don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t complain basis.

Comment on Two sides of the climate change coin: climate science and policy after COP21 by COP21 Summary

COP21 Summary — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 08:22:40 +0000

COP21 and the Paris agreement can’t achieve anything while we still live in a place where there are climate change sceptics and deniers. What the people marching outside the summit knew, and the people inside tried to hide, is that the world needs to be on high alert as of now. That means a radical change in business economics, consumption, investments, food industry. COP21 failed in its mission to ‘jump-start’ that change by enforcing a law to it. Maybe it was a success in diplomacy, but surely not in climate change solutions.

Comment on Edinburgh Sustainability Jam 2015 by David Somervell

David Somervell — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 20:06:08 +0000

Check out Mini-Jam planned for 9.30-4pm Wed 17 February in Innovative Learning Week.

3%. The amount the University needs to reduce its carbon emissions by each year; however, we aren’t near achieving this goal. This is where students and staff can step in and start the change. This Mini Jam will be a pioneering start to generate new ideas and practical plans to reach the 3%/year target.

Real solutions require multidisciplinary approaches and we welcome everyone regardless of their academic background. This will be your chance to meet and work with people from completely different subjects.

The aim of the Jam is to get the ball rolling and for real ideas to be created. Once the Jam finishes we hope you and your team will carry on what you have started.

The Jam consists of getting into groups and coming up with initial ideas of how to tackle the 3% problem. Solutions can be anything from a policy proposal, new initiative idea or even an app! It is up to you! You’ll come up with practical solutions that can have positive knock on effects for the Edinburgh community.

FREE tea, coffee and croissants at Registration from 9:30AM! FREE lunch at 1pm.

Timetable

10:00: Jam Begins
10:00-10:15: Ice Breakers
10:15-10:45: The Climate Challenge (Speakers: )
10:45-11:30: Ideas Generation in groups
11:30-13:00: Fermentation Process
13:00-13:30: Food for the Brain
13:30-15:00: Distilling the Ideas
15:00-16:00: Sharing the Proposals with stakeholders

It’s time to disrupt old ways and create new ones. Bring your laptop so we can search!

FAQs Do I have to come with an existing idea to participate in the Jam? The only thing you need is an interest in making changes happen! If you have an idea – social, cultural, engineering, financial, practical – bring it along!

Do I have to form a team before participating? The Jam is a place for meeting new people and stretching your brain with a group of new friends.