The following are some of the environment related questions that often get asked of us and a short summary of our response.

1. Can anything be done to stop or control climate change?  The overwhelming evidence from climate science is that change is already happening, so we can't stop it.  The science does suggest, however, that making substantial cuts in our emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide should enable us to influence the degree of climate change in the future. 

2. How can mechanical engineers help achieve the cuts in CO₂ needed?  Cutting carbon emissions will require action on many fronts and by all sections of society.  Mechanical engineers will play a vital role in designing, developing, installing and operating the low carbon technologies of the future, for transport, for power generation, for manufacturing, for processing, for waste management and in our homes and other buildings.

3. Climate change is already happening; how do we reduce or control its impact?  By building adaptive capacity (undertaking research, gathering data, creating information and providing supportive structures) and delivering adaptation actions (actions that help to reduce vulnerability to climate risks or exploit opportunities).

4. What is the Institution itself doing about climate change?  We help mechanical engineers and society to recognise and respond to the challenges of climate change, through our special projects, partnerships, events and publications.  We provide policy advice to government about low carbon technologies and adaptation needs and we are working hard to improve our own carbon impact.

5. What is the IMechE view on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)?  We see the EU ETS as a vital tool in the fight against climate change - it has the potential, by putting an appropriate monetary value on carbon emissions, to incentivise major energy users across the EU to develop and use low carbon technologies and practices.

6. Is our work on tackling global warming any use if the USA and developing nations, such as China, ignore the issue?  Many individuals, organisations and local governments in the USA and the developing nations are taking the threats of climate change very seriously.  Taking a lead is not only a tremendous business opportunity for the UK, but as founders of the modern industrial era, a moral imperative.

7. If the government did one thing to help global warming, what should it be?  The Government has the power to do many things, of course, but if it could only do one thing, it must be to get international agreement and commitment amongst all the major players, to significant cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions, of at least 80% by 2050.

8. Does IMechE have a sustainability policy? If not, why not?  Yes - we published a position statement on sustainability in 2002 which has recently been updated and is available on the Environment Theme Summary page. This statement committed us to work towards a sustainable future, embracing economic, social and environmental objectives.  We remain active in, and committed to, the promotion of sustainability.

9. Does IMechE support individual carbon audits?  Climate change is a global issue - we all have a responsibility to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  Within a market economy, carbon allowances, audits and trading schemes are potentially useful measures to encourage carbon savings, but they are unlikely to be operable or effective at the individual level.

10. Does IMechE believe a Severn Barrier should be built?  A Severn Barrier could generate a significant amount of clean, renewable electricity (about 7% of total UK demand).  If it can be built in such a way that the environmental, economic and social benefits can be balanced, then we would certainly support it.

11. What is IMechE's view of recycling - does an over-emphasis on it ignore the amount of energy needed to recycle?  As a society we must see "waste" much more as a resource.  Different materials will suit different uses, but using the waste as an energy source is often more sensible than using more energy to recycle it.

12. What is IMechE's view of transporting waste to China (and other countries) to be processed?  Resources should be used and re-used in such a way as to minimise the overall life cycle carbon impacts.  Shipping UK resources overseas is likely to lead to higher carbon impacts than processing them in the UK, but this will depend on the particular circumstances and each case should be considered in the broader context of environmental, economic and social benefits.

13. Is climate change real?  Yes - the overwhelming consensus of climate scientists is that the earth is getting warmer and that this warming is leading to climate change.

14. What is IMechE's view of the renewables obligation? Does it encourage innovation?  Our response to the Government's review of the Renewables Obligation makes clear that much stronger measures are needed to encourage the development of emerging, innovative technologies such as wave and tidal energy.

15. Do CO₂ emissions targets work?  Targets alone don't cut CO₂ emissions, but they do provide a useful framework to guide policy measures and monitor progress towards the achievement of objectives.

16. Should water meters be mandatory?  Some parts of the UK may, as a result of climate change, increasingly be subject to low rainfall and water shortages - in these areas, water meters are a useful way to help consumers reduce consumption.

17. Should people have to pay by the amount of rubbish they produce?  The polluter pays principle is important to sustainable development.  It is only fair that people who produce more rubbish than others should pay more for its collection, processing and disposal.

18. What is IMechE's position on the 'water grid'?  Pumping water over long distances consumes very large quantities of energy, so a national grid is not currently feasible.  Measures to control and reduce demand, including more use of water meters, and actions to reduce leakages and improve storage capacity are more appropriate.