Bridging the gap between energy and the environment

Holland, Robert A.; Scott, Kate; Hinton, Emma D.; Austen, Melanie C.; Barrett, John; Beaumont, Nicola; Blaber-Wegg, Tina; Brown, Gareth; Carter-Silk, Eleanor; Cazenave, Pierre; Eigenbrod, Felix; Hiscock, Kevin; Hooper, Tara; Lovett, Andrew; Papathanasopoulou, Eleni; Smith, Pete; Thomas, Amy; Tickner, Rob; Torres, Ricardo; Taylor, Gail

Abstract

© 2016 The Authors. Meeting the world's energy demand is a major challenge for society over the coming century. To identify the most sustainable energy pathways to meet this demand, analysis of energy systems on which policy is based must move beyond the current primary focus on carbon to include a broad range of ecosystem services on which human well-being depends. Incorporation of a broad set of ecosystem services into the design of energy policy will differentiates between energy technology options to identify policy options that reconcile national and international obligations to address climate change and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this paper we consider our current understanding of the implications of energy systems for ecosystem services and identify key elements of an assessment. Analysis must consider the full life cycle of energy systems, the territorial and international footprint, use a consistent ecosystem service framework that incorporates the value of both market and non-market goods, and consider the spatial and temporal dynamics of both the energy and environmental system. While significant methodological challenges exist, the approach we detail can provide the holistic view of energy and ecosystem services interactions required to inform the future of global energy policy.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 25, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 23, 2016
• Publication Date: May 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 31, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 1, 2019
• Journal: Energy Policy
• Print ISSN: 0301-4215
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 92
• Pages: 181-189
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.01.037
• Keywords: General Energy; Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/4253087
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Bridging the gap between energy and the environment; Journal Title: Energy Policy; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.01.037; Content Type: article; Copyright: Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.