Decarbonising Modern Societies: Integrated scenarios process and workshops

Decarbonising Modern Societies Integrated Scenarios Process and Workshops

Tyndall Research Theme 2 - Decarbonising Modern Societies
Project ID - T3.24

Primary contact: Paul Ekins

The following information is available on this project:

Final technical report:

For Tyndall Centre Technical Report 48 see attachment: Anderson D., Bows A., Mander S, Shackley S., Agnolucci P., Ekins P., (2006) Decarbonising Modern Societies:Integrated Scenarios Process and Workshops

Project technical summary

Technical Summary

The Tyndall Centre's Theme 2, "Decarbonisation of Modern Societies" is exploring the technical, managerial and behavioural strategies to decrease carbon, energy and consumption intensities in the UK through integrated projects involving engineers, scientists, economists and social scientists. At the Theme level, we are developing an integrative methodology for evaluating the transition to a low-carbon sustainable energy society. This involves a qualitative and semi-quantitative sustainability appraisal of options using Multi-Criteria Assessment and integrated scenario construction and appraisal. The objectives are, therefore, the following:

a) to devise a credible, challenging, and creative set of scenarios for a substantially decarbonised energy society in the 2050s

b) to devise a suitable multi-criteria assessment framework from which to assess these different future visions.

c) To conduct a multi-criteria assessment of the scenario set, with key findings.

The following key steps are involved in the process. 1. Scenario generation 2. Scenario reduction 3. Scenario characterisation 4. Scenario assessment 5. Scenario backcasting 6. Iteration (which leads back to further stages of scenario assessment at stage (4) and of scenario backcasting at stage (5)). 7. Final scenarios and public launch Stakeholder involvement occurs in Stages 2, 5 and 6 The largest number of stakeholders are involved in Stage 5.

More information:

Other researchers involved in this project are:
Dr Simon Shackley , Policy Studies Institute (PSI), and Dr Kevin Anderson , Tyndall Centre Manchester

Project duration :

January 2004 - September 2005