News

We are really excited to publish the agenda and list of speakers for our upcoming research conference ‘Putting Net Zero into Action: addressing the implementation gap’. This will take place online and in person at etc.venues Manchester, on the 13 and 14 June.

We are very pleased to announce that our keynote speakers are Niall Toru, Senior Lawyer, Friends of the Earth and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Book your ticket

Please note that all in person tickets have been sold but you can still sign up for online attendance – tickets cost £45. To attend the conference please book your ticket by completing our two step process. Step 1 is to register your attendance on Eventbrite, step 2 is to pay for your ticket on UCL stores. Please note that your ticket is only confirmed once payment has been made via UCL stores.

• Step 1: Register your attendance on Eventbrite
• Step 2: Pay for your ticket on UCL stores 

Keynote and session details

Monday 13 June

10.00 – 10.10: Welcome, Professor Paul Dodds, conference chair 

10.10 – 10.40: First keynote, Niall Toru, Senior Lawyer, Friends of the Earth

10.40 – 11.55

Session 1: The global energy crisis – implications for the UK’s energy security and net zero ambitions​

Chair: Professor Mike Bradshaw, Warwick Business School

Speakers:

• Professor Mike Bradshaw, University of Warwick (Introduction)​
• Dr Jack Sharples, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies​
• Professor Stefan Bouzarovski, University of Manchester​
• Dr Caroline Kuzemko, University of Warwick

12.50 – 14.05

Session 2: Power decarbonisation – is new nuclear needed for security of supply?

Chair: Professor Katherine Morris, University of Manchester

Speakers:

• Professor Keith Bell, University of Strathclyde
• Liam Lidstone, Energy Systems Catapult
• Dr Philip Johnstone, University of Sussex
• Professor Paul Dodds, University College London

Session 3: Public sector – the roles of local government in enabling decarbonisation, both directly and as an enabler for other sectors

Chair: Dr Katherine Sugar, University Edinburgh

Speakers:

• Karl Harder, Abundance Investment
• Dr Katy Roelich, University of Leeds
• Joseph Holmes, West Berkshire Council

14.25 – 15.45

Session 4: Energy and transport equity in the drive for net zero

Chair: Stefan Bouzarovski, University of Manchester

Speakers:

• Valentine Quinio, Centre for Cities
• Professor Jillian Anable, University of Leeds
• Michael McGovern, Cambridge Econometrics
• Josh Burke, London School of Economics

Session 5: Costs and benefits of decarbonisation

Chair: Prof Paolo Agnolucci, University College London

Speakers:

• Dr Raphael Slade, Imperial College London
• Professor Paul Ekins, University College London
• Mike Thompson, Climate Change Committee
• Jon Stenning, Cambridge Econometrics
• Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Economist, CBI

15.45 – 16.10: Second keynote, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Tuesday 14 June

9.00 – 10.20

Session 6: Energy infrastructure needs for achieving net zero

Chair: Sara Walker, Newcastle University

Speakers:

• Malcolm Arthur, National Grid
• Dr Vandad Hamidi, Vinci Energies
• Kirsty Hamilton OBE, Chatham House

Session 7: Unlocking net-zero innovation, skills and supply chains

Chairs: Rachel Bray and Rebecca Ford, University of Strathclyde

Speakers:

• Professor Karen Turner, University of Strathclyde
• Kayla Ente MBE, Brighton & Hove Energy Service
• Cara Jenkinson, Ashden
• Dr Richard Hanna, Imperial College London

10.40 – 12.00

Session 8: Biomass strategy and negative emission technologies

Chairs: Professor Gail Taylor & Dr Rob Holland, University of Southampton

Speakers:

• Dr Oliver Broad, University College London
• Professor Patricia Thornley, Aston University
• Dr Rebecca Rowe, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Lancaster
• Professor Nick Pidgeon, Cardiff University

Session 9: Industry sector – maintaining competitiveness?

Chair: Ahmed Gailani, University of Leeds

Speakers:

• Abi Thomas, Climate Change Committee
• Dr Sam Cooper, University of Bath
• Dr Danial Sturge, Energy Systems Catapult

Panellists:

• Ana Musat, Aldersgate Group
• Dr Julian Gregory, University of Manchester

13.00 – 14.20

Session 10: Balancing net zero and other environmental objectives

Chair: Professor Andrew Lovett, UEA

Speakers:

• Dr Gemma Delafield, University of Exeter
• Professor Brett Day, University of Exeter
• Professor Nicola Beaumont, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
• Professor Christina von Haaren, Leibniz University Hannover

Session 11:  Low energy demand – opportunities for resilience and adaptation in the face of changing climates

Chair: Professor John Barrett, University of Leeds

Speakers:

• Professor Patrick Devine Wright, University of Exeter
• Dr Maria Sharmina, Government Office for Science
• Professor Alice Larkin, University of Manchester
• Professor Jillian Anable, University of Leeds

14.40 – 16.10

Wrap-up and panel session:

Strengths and weaknesses of the Net Zero Strategy and next steps

Chair:  Mike Colechin, Cultivate

Keynote speaker: Professor Rob Gross, UK Energy Research Centre

Speakers:

• Dr Joanne Wade OBE, The Association for Decentralised Energy
• Dhara Vyas, Energy UK
• Professor Keith Bell, University of Strathlyde

Download the agenda UKERC Conference_Agenda_9 June.