Professor Susan Waldron, Director for Research and Skills at The Natural Environment Research CouncilIt is important to emphasize the importance of innovation and research in adapting for climate change
UK research was a key component of helping negotiators to understand and respond to climate crisis. The UK’s largest investor in climate change and environment research is the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation. For the last 50 years, we have funded curiosity-driven, innovative, ground-breaking science – identifying the issues we face and finding solutions or ways to adapt to climate change.
Our scientists have been a catalyst for action and leadership, from identifying the hole within the ozone layer that led to the 1987 Montreal Protocol to exposing climate change risks and finding microplastics throughout the oceans. 1985 saw the establishment of the first Global Sea Level Observing System, (GLOSS), for long-term climate monitoring and oceanographic sea level monitoring. In the 1990s, scientists discovered that carbon capture was an option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We support the UK’s key goals and commitments as we look forward. Our support includes its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
We are investing 40million in four projects called Changing the Environment. This funding will allow research consortia from different disciplines to pool their expertise and solve the most difficult environmental problems facing the UK as it adapts and moves towards net-zero emission. The challenges include how to create net zero cities, how to drive rural economies and increase biodiversity, and how to quickly generate research understanding to support government policies.
To reach net-zero targets, it is crucial to decarbonize heat in our homes and businesses. The UK Geoenergy Observatory was recently opened by the British Geological Survey. It allows users to examine how abandoned flooded coal mines can provide geothermal heat through extraction and storage. This heat source can be studied in detail to determine its size and sustainability, as well as how to access it with minimal environmental impacts. This underground observatory is one of many that will help us understand the effects of geothermal, hydrogen, carbon capture, and storage on carbon emissions.
To support the financial sector in making environmentally sustainable decisions and generating a greener global economy, it is a priority. Last year, we launched the UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment. Output will include tools that can be used to assess storm and flood risk and pollution caused by companies and the liabilities they face. NERC-funded research is the backbone of knowledge transfer to the financial industry. We have invested 42.5million in partnership with other organisations to study the relationship between air pollution, public health, and storm and flood risk.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough is our most advanced science discovery vessel. It has been in service since this year and has led research missions in Antarctica, and the Arctic. The British Antarctica Survey, NERCs polar research center, operates the vessel. It will change the way ship-borne science is conducted at polar regions. It also provides scientists with state of the art facilities to study the oceans and seafloors. This is crucial because polar regions play a critical part in balancing global temperature.
Our scientists study the entire planet from the surface of the Earth to the centre, analyzing the past and projecting into its future. They also examine how humans interact with it. Discovery Science has been given more funding to support such question-driven research that leads to breakthroughs. Some of this fundamental research provides valuable insight into key phenomena in the earth system that can be beneficial to society. For example, a deeper understanding of the structure and inner core of the Earth. 2800km below the surface, knowledge of the inner core will further understanding of the Earth’s magnetic field, which has shielded the surface environment from solar radiation for billions of years and now helps mitigate against space weather events – significant anthropogenic impacts disrupting telecommunications and power grids.
Our role as a UK Research Council is to inspire the next generation of environmental scientists. NERC’s public engagement activity is designed for people to use environmental science evidence in decision-making and to attract a diverse pool of talent and skills to bring new scientists to solve the problems our planet faces. There are opportunities for early career researchers at our facilities and UK universities. We offer PhD-level training in a variety of environmental sciences, as well as where special skills are needed, such as how to manage UK marine resources.
NERC is a leader in finding solutions to the challenges our planet is facing. We are ambitious to lead a broad and diverse research community to bring about the environmental solutions – clean air and water, limiting and adapting to climate change, a circular economy, and diverse ecosystems – needed in the UK and worldwide, to foster a productive, healthy and resilient environment.