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Climate change and lifestyles
Climate change is one of the major phenomena of the 21st century. Finding a consensus on the reality of climatic uncertainties and the dangers that they represent lies at the heart of the great economic, environmental and social issues that will be at stake over the next few decades. If current predictions are confirmed, our modes of production and consumption will have to change radically. Globalization and economic interdependancy have transformed purely local problems into world-wide concerns. The Institut Veolia Environnement undertakes studies on this theme, highlighting the consequences of climate change and the modifications that they will impose on lifestyles.
Studies launched by the Institute
Comparing the carbon inventories of European cities
Partners: Nikolas Bader and Dr. Raimund Bleischwitz, College of Europe (Belgium)
Period of study: 2008-2009.
In recent years city associations, energy agencies and research institutes have developed different software tools to create greenhouse gas inventories for cities. The purpose of the project was to understand how the methodologies underlying the tools differ and to what extent results obtained with different tools may be comparable. The results show that the methodologies underlying the inventories differ in some important points such as the calculation of CO2 equivalents and the boundaries of the measurement or the greenhouse gases covered. Inventories are therefore often not comparable. By analyzing and comparing selected carbon inventories of cities and regions, the study has highlighted the main points where differences stem from as well as ways towards greater comparability.
Risks linked to climate change - Factor 4
Partners: Institute of Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI); Entreprise pour l'Environnement (EpE)
Period of study: 2005-2007
The Institut Veolia Environnement is taking part in a major prospective study carried out by IDDRI and EpE on the consequences of climate change on lifestyles.
The aim is to consider applying "factor 4", namely how to achieve a fourfold decrease in energy consumption in developed countries without jeopardising standards of living. The deadline is 2050. If the worst case scenarios predicted at present by climate change specialists were to come true, our modes of production (cf. technological upheavals) and of consumption would be severely disrupted.
The study is divided between models applied by economists and the drawing up of a scenario for climate change world governance.
2007 Conference
« Climate 2050: Technology and policy solutions » October 24-26th, Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Canada
Partners:
Pew Center on Global Climate Change (USA)
Table Ronde Nationale sur l'Economie et l'Environnement (Canada)
With high level panels composed of North American and international experts coming from academic, public and private organisations, the conference has brought together nearly 400 participants from 12 countries. The event has given a lot of opportunity to speakers to share their practices and raise awareness to the general public on technological innovation in key sectors (CCS, transport, buildings, biofuels, etc.) but also on progress and expectations in terms of climate policies.
