Environment & Energy
Latest Environment & Energy Publications
Small Modular Reactors: The next big thing in energy?
Matthew RooneySmall modular nuclear reactors could be a crucial technology in the drive to decarbonise our energy system, according to Small Modular Reactors: The next big thing in energy? The increased take-up of electric vehicles, the general electrification of our energy system and the need to decarbonise all sectors of our economy mean we need new low carbon sources of electricity and heat to replace existing capacity and meet rising future demands. We need a reliable and affordable low-carbon form of energy – small modular reactors have the potential to be that technology.
Farming Tomorrow
Warwick Lightfoot, Joshua Burke, Nicholas Craig-Harvey, Jonathan Dupont, Richard Howard, Rebecca Lowe, Richard Norrie and Michael TaylorThis major new Policy Exchange report sets out the once in a generation opportunity that Brexit offers our nation to reform its agricultural and environmental policy. Since 1973, UK farm and food policies have conformed to the rules and objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) — the EU’s principal policy programme. Doing so has, at great expense, reduced Britain’s agricultural productivity by lessening competition and supporting inefficient farmers. It has also increased costs for consumers. This report outlines opportunities to improve policy by focusing on four main interest groups: consumers, producers, the wider rural economy, and the environment. This report offers timely and comprehensive analysis and answers to some of the most pressing policy questions of our day.
Clean Growth: How to boost business energy productivity
Joshua BurkeThe Government should establish a new Energy Efficiency Delivery Unit and Energy Performance Certificates should be linked to business rates to incentivise landlords to invest more in energy efficiency, according to Clean Growth, the new report from Policy Exchange’s influential and expert Energy and Environment team. The report calls for a new approach by Government to encourage investment in business energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions and improve business productivity. Existing tools like the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme can be much better used – and must be extended to public sector institutions like the NHS and MoD.
Latest Environment & Energy Blogs
Turning on the tap of reform: the UK water market and how consumers – and the environment – are losing out
Environment and Energy Research Fellow at Policy Exchange, Josh Burke, explores the recent speech by DEFRA Secretary Michael Gove on the water industry and finds much to praise – but also that there is more reform needed.
Glowing hot or cold? The future of nuclear power in the UK
Energy and Environment Research Fellow Matt Rooney analyses the Government’s long-term plans for nuclear power. Could Small Modular Reactors be a solution?
Don’t write off Blockchain because of the Bitcoin hype
Energy & Environment Research Fellow Joshua Burke examines the role of blockchain in building trust and transparency in structures of governance and how this can be applied to carbon-pricing schemes.
Latest Environment & Energy News
Policy Exchange report on Small Modular Reactors features in Financial Times
Matthew RooneyPolicy Exchange’s report on Small Modular Reactors featured in a Financial Times
Modern farming policy will reward enhancing the environment, rather than subsidising inactivity
Warwick LightfootPolicy Exchange’s Warwick Lightfoot argues in City AM that farming subsidies should be redirected to farmers who enhance the environment and invest in research and development.
Future farming policy to reward enhancing the environment – as called for by Policy Exchange
Policy ExchangeEnvironment Secretary Michael Gove has announced that a post-Brexit agricultural policy will reward farmers for public goods rather than acreage – as recommended in Policy Exchange’s Farming Tomorrow. The paper says that flood prevention, tree planting and biodiversity should all be subsidised rather than food production.
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