Policy Assessment at SEI
Translating the effect of policy decisions on individual and collective behavior is difficult. Quantifying the impact of resident behaviour on the environment can be more complicated still. Scenarios are inherently uncertain, given the large number of variables possible related to population, economic conditions and cultural change. Even so, scenarios do have real deliberative value and can be used to offer insight into the potential impact of policies during the decision making process.
Using REAP, SEI create scenarios which can be used to help compare the footprint impact of alternative policy interventions. The scenarios we create are best applied at the strategic level because they look at the potential impact of changes in consumption patterns of a population of an area as a whole. REAP can be used to help answer questions such as:
- How will exisitng policy influence the carbon footprint of our area over the next 10 years?
- Where should we focus our efforts to ensure the greatest reduction in our footprint by 2020?
- What scale of intervention is neccessary for us to stabalise our emissions by 2015?
- What combination of interventions would bring about 'one planet living' by 2050?
This type of analysis can be carried out at a national, regional or local level with a focus on all areas of consumption activity. To find out more take a look at our recent projects for Leeds City Region, Wales, the South East and Ashford.
A transformation scenario for the South East. This chart takes into account historical trends and shows what is needed to reduce the ecolgocial footprint of the South East by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. Source: Reducing the South East's ecological footprint and carbon emissions: a route map. Published by CAG, 2008
Current Projects
watch this space!
Recent Projects
2007-2008
- Reducing the South East's Ecological Footprint: a route map. Project undertaken with CAG Consultants, Cambridge Econometrics and CURE
- Northern Visions. Project undertaken with Enviro Centre Ltd
- Scotland's Global Footprint. Project undertaken with WWF Scotland
- Acheiving low carbon and sustainable transport systems in Yorkshire and Humber. Project undertaken with JMP
- Evaluation of regional strategies contribution to climate change in Yorkshire & Humber. Project undertaken with Arup and Cambridge Econometrics
2005-2006
- The Ecological Footprint of Hertfordshire
REAP Petite has been updated and improved.
To download a free copy click here
If you are a license holder, contact SEI to get your new version.
SEI have just released a policy brief on Scotland's Footprint.
Our study has shown that Scotland's carbon footprint has grown by 11 per cent since 1992.
The figure includes greenhouse gases released overseas during the production of goods later consumed in Scotland and so is the most accurate gauge of the country's emissions to date.
While emissions generated in Scotland fell by 13 percent between 1995 and 2004, when trade is taken account, greenhouse gases rose by 11 per cent over the same period.
The full policy brief can be found on SEI's website.
An article has also be published in the Sunday Herald and can be found here.
The NHS England successfully launched their Carbon Reduction Strategy ‘Saving Carbon, Improving Health' on 27th January 2009. SEI contributed to the evidence base for the strategy, carrying out a consumption-based carbon footprint of the NHS England, who represents 25% of England's public sector emissions. The first part of the project examined historical emissions and identified the drivers behind a rising carbon footprint. This forms the first report published in 2008. The second phase of the project projects future emissions and models a range of policy options and their carbon reduction potential.
Further information can be found at the NHS Sustainable Development Unit website
Our phase 1 report for the NHS England carbon analysis project is available online.
This report provides a 2004 baseline for the NHS, a time series and a supply chain analysis of the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors (the highest impact procurement sectors of the NHS England).
We are in the process of developing a carbon scenario tool to contribute to the NHS England Carbon Strategy and target setting. The deadline for this is January and another report will be issued. We are also looking into repeating the study for the NHS Scotland, Wales and NI.