The need to decarbonise our economy whilst monitoring and adapting to climate change is driving huge transformation in all sectors. Managing the sometimes conflicting needs of society and our environment is a complex challenge. It demands a whole system approach supported by a global effort, with decision making that needs to be anchored in trustworthy science and data.

The UK Government has outlined plans for a ‘Green Recovery’ following the COVID-19 pandemic which is supported by the ‘10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’. NPL’s science and metrology expertise will play an important role in catalysing activity in line with the UK Government’s climate strategies and in supporting international action driven by the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) and the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement.

The scale and complexity of addressing climate change demands robust evidence to help policy makers, industry and citizens take the right mitigation and adaptation actions and be confident in their impact

Richard Barker - Head of Energy and Environment Strategy, NPL

Limiting global warming in line with the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 °C will be no easy task. Governments and policy makers around the world will depend on science to provide reliable evidence to inform decision making.

As the UK’s National Metrology Institute, NPL can support this decision making process with accurate, reliable data to support climate action through:

• SI traceable measurements and the development of standards, which enable international comparison of climate data
• Measurement science to support the development of technologies that can transition into high value solutions
• Prioritised activity in areas where environmental changes most directly impact humanity
• Maintaining and applying national science and measurement infrastructure

Supporting climate, emissions and energy innovation research  

Our scientists work closely with collaborators across the UK and around the world to inform our approach to current and foreseeable challenges. We create partnerships with key stakeholders from the private, public and non-profit sectors to help drive innovation by:

• Supporting the UK’s delivery of ‘net-zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (2045 in Scotland)
• Understanding of greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental pollutants
• Understanding the measurement needs facing future decarbonised energy vectors including hydrogen
• Delivering high quality, differentiated science and engineering ahead of industry need, to enable the transition to a high value, green economy

Contact us to find out more about our Energy and Environment work and learn more of the expertise available through collaboration with our experts.

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