Discussions with DECC

The EESG updates on how Craig Lucas and Damitha Adikaari from DECC attended a recent EESG board meeting to discuss engagement between DECC and Institution on energy, the environment and sustainability.

It was a useful meeting and it certainly appeared that there was much potential to work together. DECC was interested in encouraging its mechanical engineers towards chartership with the IMechE and welcomed support with that.

DECC has built up its internal engineering capability and explained that, to a large extent, they are able address general engineering matters. They were particularly interested in the IMechE providing focused and in-depth support in specific areas.

They were open to the idea of EESG organising lunchtime seminars at DECC to their staff (potentially with Continuing Professional Development [CPD] benefit) and we will be moving this initiative forward with them.

The DECC 2050 Pathways Tool, now known as “the 2050 Energy Calculator” was discussed and the question was asked as to how it was being used to feed into Government policy. You can access the tool here and will note that on the home page it is stated, “By the year 2050 we need to dramatically change the way we produce and consume energy” and “Government targets require us to reduce emissions to 20% of 1990 levels.” Some may wonder, in the light of recent announcements by the Government of cuts to renewable energy support, tax cuts for North Sea oil and ending the Green Deal (Government energy efficiency scheme) with nothing to replace it, how the Government are to meet the stated objectives. DECC pointed out that they don’t get involved in party manifestos, but now we have a new government in place, hopefully we can support DECC in supporting the government in moving towards a more sustainable future.