Institution news
Promoting sustainable energy use and mitigating and adapting to climate change and the depletion of natural resources is key to a flourishing economy, says
Dr Jenifer Baxter, Head of
Energy and
Environment. The Institution is recognised as a key thought-leader across the energy and environment sectors; providing guidance to government agencies, Parliamentarians, and the media.
As part of the Institution's Manifesto for 2017, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers is calling for all political parties to commit to:
1. Remain an associate member of Euratom for research & development activities in the nuclear sector. The exact detail of this associate membership should be arranged before the deadline for exiting the EU. This will enable our existing research programmes to continue to operate with European and international partners with little negative impact from leaving the EU.
2. Include within the UK’s nuclear sector strategy a long term commitment to nuclear R&D programmes including a pathway for developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This should be achieved through the SMR competition followed by opportunities for demonstration and commercialisation. The UK government, in collaboration with the Welsh government, should support making the existing nuclear licensed site at Trawsfynydd in North Wales available as a potential location for the building and demonstration testing of an SMR following a comprehensive site selection process.
3. Reinstate the reduced VAT rate for energy efficiency construction materials. Further to this the Institution recommends tighter regulation for new build housing ensuring better energy efficient materials are used. This will ensure that new and existing properties can benefit from energy efficient materials reducing bills and fuel poverty.
4. Restores or creates a new industrial programme of research, development and commercialisation of carbon capture and storage technologies. Building on the Natural Environment Research Council's Greenhouse Gas Removal programme these technologies should be designed and researched in industrial settings to mitigate emissions in both power generation and manufacturing. This will lead to lower emissions, a reduction in air pollution and helping to meet future carbon budgets.
5. Seeks to collaborate with devolved administrations to standardise recycling collections across the UK leading to an increase in materials recycled. Standardisation of kerbside collections means that it is easier to create new and grow existing markets for recycled materials in UK. Standardised collection is easier for the householder to sort and the local authority to sell on, it also provides consistency for the buyer leading towards a more circular economy.
Discover our manifestos for other sectors: