AQMRC Port Talbot Report providing advice to Ministers

The 2009 report by AQMRC for the Welsh Government reviewing air pollution in Neath Port Talbot continues to be of importance.  The report is currently linked to the front page of the Welsh Government air quality website, described as "Advice to the Welsh Ministers on further measures to pinpoint the sources of particulate matter." 

Visualising Bristol's low carbon futures: John Rose Award public engagement project underway

Thanks to the 2012 John Rose Award grant from the Institution of Environmental Sciences and support from Bristol City Council, Rose's low carbon Bristol public engagement art project is under way.
Rose's PhD research consulted a large group of key local stakeholders about how Bristol might meet it's 80% carbon reduction target in 2050, producing 2 different scenarios for the city. To communicate the results in an engaging way to the Bristol public, Rose is working with local street artist Andy Council to produce visual interpretations of these two difference scenarios. The public will then be able to submit their thoughts and ideas on Bristol's low carbon future through local digital democracy company Delib's 'Dialogue app'.
The first sketches of the two scenarios have been finished, with the final images coming soon. Watch this space for the opportunity to have your say!

"Scenario X": a globalised, high-tech big-tech, 'low carbon business as usual' future

"Scenario Y": a re-localised, high-tech small-tech, 'resilient restructured community' future

AQMRC rolls out carbon support package for green SMEs

AQMRC have been working with South West SMEs on a range of carbon related business support activities through the Environmental Technologies iNet. Rose has been working one-on-one with selected companies to estimate the carbon emissions embedded in their products through lifecycle analysis and embedded carbon footprinting methods. This will help those companies with environmentally friendly products to capitalise on their green credentials, by being able to show commitment to environmental reporting and sustainability in their manufacturing and operations, as well as identify opportunities to further reduce their environmental impact and develop a carbon management strategy. It will also help emerging companies in meeting ever more stringent obligations placed on suppliers by major purchasers, themselves under increasing pressure to report environmental impacts.

For example, the results from one carbon assessment of an innovative new version of a product found that it:

• is responsible for 82% less carbon than the traditional product

• lasts four times as long as the traditional product, escalating the carbon saving to 95%

• has a transportation carbon impact of 97% less than the traditional product

• avoids 9.8 kg/CO₂e through the use of recycled materials

In addition to one-on-one support Rose, Enda and the Environmental iNet team also ran a two-day workshop on the carbon assessment of products, including lifecycle analysis, business incentives for reporting emissions, and ensuring legitimate 'green claims'. Businesses that attended varied from construction, biocrops, high-tech engineering to a zoo, but all went away with a bespoke lifecycle analysis carbon assessment inventory and toolkit and a framework for calculating the emissions from their products. 

The workshop was very popular and fully subscribed so will be running again soon – watch this space.

New Air Quality and Carbon Management Training

The Air Quality Management Resource Centre are now offering CPD training in the following Air Quality and Carbon Management courses (please click on the course name to access the webpage for descriptions and booking forms):

Introduction to Local Air Quality Management	08/11/2012
Review and Assessment: Updating and Screening Assessments & Progress Reports	09/11/2012
Environmental Permitting Regulations	22/11/2012
Review and Assessment: Detailed & Further Assessments	23/11/2012
Introduction to the Science of Climate Change	06/12/2012
Introduction to Climate Change Policy & Carbon Management	07/12/2012
Technical Guidance for LAQM: Monitoring, Modelling & Emissions Estimation	10/01/2013
Air Quality Action Plans and Action Plan Progress Reports	11/01/2013
Technical Introduction to Air Pollution Monitoring	24/01/2013
Integrating Air Quality Management into the Local Transport Planning Process	25/01/2013
Monitoring QAQC: Automatic Monitors and Diffusion Tubes	07/02/2013
Low Emission Zones and Strategies	08/02/2013
Dispersion Modelling & Model Validation, Verification & Adjustment	21/02/2013
Planning and Air Quality: Air Quality Assessments	22/02/2013
Consultation in Air Quality & Carbon Management / GIS for LAQM	07/03/2013
Sustainable Planning & Development: Local Development Framework & Healthy Urban Design	08/03/2013
Air Quality & Carbon Management: International Case Studies	21/03/2013
Action Planning: Behaviour Change & Innovative Technologies	22/03/2013

All of the Air Quality and Carbon Management short courses are run as single day sessions at the main Frenchay campus at UWE, Bristol, from 9.30 to 4.30 with one hour for lunch. The short courses are aimed primarily at professionals working in, or wishing to skill themselves to enter, the field of air quality and carbon management. However, they are equally applicable to those working in related fields such as transport, planning and energy management. The courses are accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM). The content of the short courses cover the breadth of air quality and carbon management including principles, policies, practices and integrated solutions. The fees are £150 per delegate with a 10% discount for three or more delegates from the same organisation.

For further information, contact Jo Barnes or the FET Short Course Unit.

Tim writes for 2degrees

Tim's article on "Behavioural change or societal change?" has recently been published on the 2degrees website: http://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/managing-sustainability/resources/behavioural-change-or-societal-change/.

Congratulations to Ross Hunter

Congratulations to Ross who successfully defended his PhD entitled “Enhancing air quality in Wales: Relating pollutant interactions to management approaches for Nitrogen Dioxide.” More information on his research can be found here: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/ross.html. Well done Ross!!

 

POST Note on Engergy Use Behaviour Change

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology has just published a briefing note on ‘Energy Use Behaviour Change’ http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/POST-PN-417.  The note was informed by the report on multi-model approaches to energy behaviour that Tim wrote for DECC during his Fellowship (http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/about-us/economics-social-research/3887-intro-thinking-energy-behaviours.pdf), and he also provided additional support in reviewing the note as part of his Fellowship Follow-On Funding.

 

 

Eleven Member States exceed air emissions limits under LRTAP Convention

Emissions of most air pollutants have fallen over the last two decades in Europe. But many Member States have exceeded internationally-agreed pollutant limits set to protect human health and the environment, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Road transport, households, power plants, agricultural activities and certain industry sectors continue to emit significant amounts of air pollution.

Read more...

Jo travels to Malta

Jo travels to Malta this weekend for a contract initiation meeting with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). AQMRC have been contracted by MEPA to undertake air quality consultancy work in relation to Delimara Power Station. Jo will visit the plant and monitoring sites and discuss the project methodology with the Monitoring Committee. 

And the Dr Nurul Leksmono Memorial Prize goes to... Mo!

Dr Mofoluso Fagbeja was awarded with the Dr Nurul Leksmono Memorial Prize at yesterday's Graduation Ceremony in Bristol Cathedral. The award, which was devised to celebrate the life of our much-loved colleague, is awarded to the UWE Postgraduate International student whose PhD or MSc thesis on the subject of air quality, carbon management or environmental management can be considered the best in the graduating year. Congratualtions, Mo!

Dr Mofoluso Fagbeja

PhD Graduation ceremony

Mofolosu Fagbeja, Simon Baldwin and Rose Bailey were yesterday (26th July 2012) awarded their Doctor of Philosophy degrees at the UWE Graduation Ceremony held at Bristol Cathedral. Their supervisors and AQMRC colleagues were delighted to help them celebrate their well-earned successes and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Drs Mofoluso Fagbeja, Rose Bailey and Simon Baldwin

Tim at Caberet of Ideas

On Saturday 21st July Tim will be part of The Cabaret of Ideas event at IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2012. 
For two hours Tim will participate with a range of other nominated experts in what has been described as a 'live Wikipedia type event'
20+12 (in other numbers 32) people from a wide range of fields will gather in the Festival's Spiegeltent to share their passions, thoughts, insights and revelations with member of the public.
 
The event will take place on Saturday 21st July at 11.30am, at the Spiegeltent, Campbell Park MK9 4AD (MK)
 
More details on the festival website http://www.ifmiltonkeynes.org/2012-festival-programme/2012/07/21/the-cabaret-of-ideas.html

Enda interviewed for article on the concept of a sustainable 'Aerotropolis'

Enda was interviewed for an article in the South African urban design magazine, Urban Green File, on the concept of a sustainable aerotropolis (airport city). The article questions if an aerotropolis could be sustainable through efficient waste management? This follows on from a project last year, which Enda led, that delivered a Framework for Sustainability for the development of a Dube Aerotropolis in the vicinity of King Shaka International Airport, Durban.

The article can be found here: http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/brookepattrick/urban_green_file_june_2012_ebook/2012060701/#36

 

Award for Best Poster at Doctoral Exchanges

On 2nd July the Faculty of Environment and Technology held its annual Doctoral Exchange conference. David Williams’ poster: A Social Perspective on Travel, won the best poster presentation award.

 

The poster can be found at the following location:

http://www.disruptionproject.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Poster-Disruption-UWE2-Social-Practices-and-Travel.pdf

 

 

FET Doctoral Exchange

On 2nd July the Faculty of Environment and Technology held its annual Doctoral Exchange conference. Three AQMRC PhD students presented their work at the conference.

Rose Bailey's  presentation summarised her completed doctoral research, Jo Barnes presentation reported on her progress approximately half way through  her PhD whilst David Williams' poster presentation set out the context and preliminary results from his  work.

Many congratulations to David, Jo and Rose on their excellent contributions to the Doctoral Exchange Conference.

PhD Successes

AQMRC is delighted to announce that Rose Bailey, Simon Baldwin and Mofoluso Fagbeja will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the UWE Graduation Ceremony to be held in Bristol Cathedral on the 26th of July.

Very many congratulations to Rose, Simon and Mo on this deserved success.

Look out for the photographs from the graduation ceremony which  we will post at the end of the month.

Tim Quoted in Guardian

We have just found out that part of Tim’s contribution to the House of Lords’ enquiry into ‘Behaviour Change’ has been quoted by the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/19/nudge-is-not-enough-behaviour-change

AQMRC win Welsh Government contract to assist in Port Talbot

AQMRC has been successful in winning a prestigious 3 year contract with the Welsh Government to provide independent peer-review of a programme of work to be delivered by the Port Talbot PM10 Data Team (a technical working group). The Data Team are tasked with providing a robust evidence base upon which action can be taken to improve PM10 concentrations in Port Talbot. AQMRC will act as external, independent reviewers to ensure that this programme of work remains focussed on its objective to provide a fit-for-purpose and robust evidence base, and that it is making the best use of scientific data and methodologies.

This project follows on from our 2009 study in which we delivered a comprehensive independent review of PM10 in the vicinity of the Port Talbot Steelworks. (http://www.uwe.ac.uk/aqm/projects.html#An_Independent_Review_of_Monitoring_Measures_Undertaken_in_Neath_Port_Talbot_in_Respect_of_Particulate_Matter_(PM10)_(2009)

Air Pollution 2013 - Call for Papers from the Wessex Institute

UWE is delighted to collaborate with the Wessex Institute of Technology and the University of Siena to organise Air Pollution 2013. This will be the 21st meeting in this important and influential series. The call for papers is now open. Please see the details below.

Organised by: Wessex Institute of Technology, UK                        University of the West of England, UK                        University of Siena, Italy Sponsored by: WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment; International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning To learn more about the Wessex Institute of Technology please click here. View full details about the conference objectives, topics and submission requirements online at: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/air2013rem1.html

Benefits of Attending ·         Conference Books Papers are published in paper and digital format and widely distributed throughout the world.  Delegates will receive a copy of the book in digital format at the time of registration. Papers are also archived at http://library.witpress.com ·         Open Access Authors have the option to make their work available in Open Access format for wider dissemination. ·         Journal Papers Presenters will be invited to submit a paper to one of the six International Scientific Journals edited by the Wessex Institute. ·         Networking Participants can present their research and interact with experts from around the world, becoming part of a unique community.

Abstract Submission

Submit an abstract online at: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/air2013rem1.html or contact the Conference Secretariat below.

Conference Topics

Air pollution modelling Monitoring and measuring Air quality management Indoor air pollution Aerosols and particles Emission studies Air pollution chemistry Source identification Global and regional studies Exposure and health effects Economics of air pollution control Policy and legislation Case studies Innovative technologies

Conference Secretariat

Irene Moreno Millan Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 7AA Telephone: 44 (0) 238 029 3223      Fax: 44 (0) 238 029 2853 Email: imoreno@wessex.ac.uk Please circulate this announcement to colleagues who may be interested in this conference. They can subscribe by emailing enquiries@wessex.ac.uk with 'Subscribe - Air Pollution 2013' as the subject line. Follow us on:  Facebook Twitter Blogger

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We endeavour to email you information relevant to your field. However, if you are now specialising in another field and wish to receive news relevant to this area, or if you no longer wish to be included in this list please email: enquiries@wessex.ac.uk

Presentation at Behaviour, Energy and Climate Change

Tim has had a paper accepted for the prestigious Behaviour, Energy and Climate Change conference in Sacremento in November. The paper will be presenting the work that he has been doing with DECC on developing a multi-model approach to tackling 'Energy Behaviour'.