Visions for a Low
Low-Carbon
Carbon Society
Findings from the workshop series of the UK-Japan
collaboration Low-Carbon
Low Carbon Societies
Jose Alberto Garibladi
UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs
8 December 2007, COP13, Bali

Questions addressed byy the LCS projectj• Why do we need deep cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ?
• How could reductions of about 50% be achieved by 2050 – country
perspectives?
•How can we align sustainable development and climate objectives?

• What are the gaps between current reality and the future vision for aLCS at the country-level?
• What opportunities
pp
exist for cooperation
pand how can we bestcooperate in estimating country, regional and global-level LCS
scenarios.

1st Workshop: What do we mean by a LowC b Society?
CarbonS i t ?
A Low-Carbon Society:• takes actions that are compatible with the principles ofsustainable development, ensuring that the development needs
groupsp within society
y are met;of all g• makes an equitable contribution towards the global effort tostabilise atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide andother greenhouse gases at a level that will avoid dangerous
climate change through deep cuts in global emissions;• demonstrates high levels of energy efficiency and uses lowcarbonb energy sources andd production
d ti ttechnologies,
h l ianddadopts patterns of consumption and behaviour that areconsistent with low levels of GHG emissions.

Findings from the 1st Workshop (2):•Why do we need Low-Carbon Societies• How can we achieve Low-Carbon
Low Carbon Societies•How to align Low-Carbon Societies with SustainableDevelopment• International cooperation

2nd Workshopp (1)( ) Rationale• Urgent action required to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions
significantlygy ((byy at least 50 p
per cent byy 2050)) and adapt
p tounavoidable impacts of climate change.
• Technicallyy and economicallyy feasibilityy to achieve deep
p cuts ingreenhouse gas emissions by 2050 – as much as 60-80 per cent indeveloped countries.
•The costs of transitioning to low-carbon societies are vastly
outweighed by the future costs of inaction.

• Scale of the problem is such that a wide range of stakeholders need
to be engaged in finding solutions.

2nd Workshop (2) Policies and Measures
International action will require bold and innovative measures.
There is a need to:• Develop long-term policy signals for business• Enhance international RD&D in integrative and transformational
technologies
low carbon development in• Mobilise investment resources for low-carbon
developing countries.
g
low-carbon strategiesg
are an importantp
aspectpofWell designed
sustainable development that can deliver significant co-benefits.

2nd Workshop (3) Key factors for success
Changes in human behaviour and lifestyle are essential toachieving low-carbon
low carbon societiessocieties.
Existing technologies and those close to commercialisation canmake a major contribution to carbon emission reductions.
A significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions is due tocities. Existing initiatives and projects at city-levelcity level around theworld show that effective action can be and is being undertaken.

Key policy recommendations:• Develop frameworks that create incentives for deployment
of Carbon Capture and Storage.
• Develop a comprehensive programmatic approach toglobal forestry and soil carbon stocks.
• Establish a fiscal framework that discourages lowsustainability developments
developments.
• An approach to transport policies that promote moresustainable mobility.
y• Create long-term incentives for the design, construction
and use of more energy efficient homes• Develop schemes that raise people’s
people s awareness of theimpacts that their consumption choices have on theircarbon footprint.

Next steps – WS3 2008
• WS3 will be held 13-15 February 2008 in Tokyo, Japan• Will demonstrate feasibility
y of low-carbon societies throughgestablishing methodologies for creating visions and drawing
roadmaps, and raising awareness• Will develop further the policy recommendations and mapping of lowcarbon society activities• Will ffocus on scientifici tifi achievementhit off ththe llow-carbon
b societyi t study,
t d
explore integration of low-carbon societies and sustainable
development, and mobilise wider dialogue among stakeholders.

LCS results will feed into otherinternational processes:• UNFCCC• G8• Gleneagles Dialogue• Other international processes