Jo presents at EPUK Autumn Conference

Environmental Protectection UK held their first national conference since its rise from the ashes, yesterday at Aston University, Birmingham. Covering the range of EPUK's core interests, the day provided an interesting and diverse series of talks on issues such as hydraulic fracturing with shale gas, noise policy and action plans, life-cycle analysis of steel production, and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Addressing the recent LAQM consultation, Jo Barnes was invited to speak on the 'Implementation of Defra's Air Quality policy'. The talk, which outlined UWE's reponse to the consutlation, was well-received and was welcomed by the chair of EPUK's Air Quality Committee, Sarah Legge, as a key issue that they had also responded to on behalf of EPUK.

New PhD student investigating unconvential gas in the UK

As part of AQMRC’s involvement in the recently launched International Water Security Network project, a new PhD student, Jenna Brown, has just started her studies. Jenna will be investigating the impact of fracking on water-energy-carbon in the UK. Enda will act as Director of Studies with further supervisory support provided by Chad Staddon (BWG) and Rose Bailey (AQMRC).

Enda attends the Umgeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership Workshop

As part of AQMRC’s involvement in the recently launched International Water Security Network project (in which Enda and Rose have a work strand investigating the water-energy-carbon nexus), Enda visited Durban and Pietermaritzburg for stakeholder meetings and workshops.  Enda had the opportunity to meet with Durban Municipality to explore their participation as a case study, spend time with project collaborator, Duncan Hay, to learn more about current and future challenges facing the Umgeni River catchment and attend the Umgeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership Workshop.

 

 

Enda meets with ICLEI Africa

While in South Africa attending the 16^th IUAPPA World Congress, Enda was invited to present to ICLEI Africa on previous work undertaken by AQMRC for the Dube Aerotropolis project in the vicinity of the King Shaka International Airport, Durban. The Dube project included a Framework for Sustainability, a Carbon Inventory and a Water Inventory for the development of an ‘aerotropolis’ (airport city type development). ICLEI Africa were interested to learn more about our methodological approach, results and recommendations as it impacts on one of their Urban Low Emissions Development Strategies (http://urbanleds.iclei.org/) models with KwaDukuza Municipality.

 

 

Enda attends the 16th IUAPPA World Congress

Enda attended the 16^th IUAPPA World Congress in Cape Town (30^th September - 4^th October 20130. He presented two papers which were very well received. The papers were “Integrating Carbon Management into the Local Air Quality Management Framework: an English Case Study” and “Utilising Openair to support multi-stakeholder engagement and the resolution of air quality issues”.  The Congress was very well attended and covered the theme of ‘Many Nations – One Atmosphere: Plotting the Path to Sustainability’. The 17^th IUAPPA World Congress in 2016 will be on the theme of ‘Mega-Cities Perspective: Healthier and Greener Future’ with Busan City, Korea hosting (www.iuappa2016.org).