Institution's comments on the IPCC climate change report

Dr Jenifer Baxter, Head of Engineering, comments on the IPCC climate change report.

"The Institution of Mechanical Engineers welcomes this new IPCC climate change report that identifies the impacts of climate change in a 1.5 and 2 degree scenario.

This report aims to create urgency in our response to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We have technological knowledge to dramatically reduce emissions, we now require the leadership to make tough decisions on regulations for energy efficiency and emissions that may not be politically popular.

The IPCC’s target to generate 70-80% electricity from renewables is ambitious, but we have to look at the broader picture and focus on reducing the carbon intensity of the whole electricity system. Currently renewables are backed up by gas when they are not generating and in the UK, gas is backed up by coal. 

Carbon capture and storage may help to some extent, but this infrastructure runs the risk of locking us into a fossil fuel-based system.

We are not yet in the position to create enough long-term storage from environmentally friendly sources to fill the supply gap when renewables are not generating. We have very limited options for more hydro power in the UK, batteries do not yet provide the type of storage needed and other options like liquid air and hydrogen storage are still early in their development stages.

Another option to reduce the carbon intensity of the electricity system is to take a more certain approach to nuclear power by planning a long-term rolling programme of development that grows the supply chain and required skills, as well as reducing the overall costs of building new power stations. 

Going beyond the electricity system, we should explore the relationship between nuclear and producing hydrogen through electrolysis to provide decarbonised fuel for heat, transport and industry."

Notes to Editors

• Contact the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Press Office on 020 7973 1261 or email media@imeche.org

• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established in 1847 and has some of the world’s greatest engineers in its history books. It is one of the fastest growing professional engineering institutions. Headquartered in London, we have operations around the world and over 120,000 members in more than 140 countries working at the heart of the most important and dynamic industries such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries.