Energy saving bulb lit up amongst old bulbs
 

Climate change strategies 

 


Carbon Trust Insights creates and disseminates fact-based analysis of core carbon mitigation issues and opportunities, supporting business and policy decision-making, incentivising new markets, and providing a vision for future carbon mitigation actions.
 
 

Our work covers a wide range of topics, including:

Markets and mechanisms

The Carbon Trust provides independent assessments of core issues related to carbon pricing mechanisms and markets, including international approaches such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, through to priorities for domestic and sector-specific issues. Our study Climate change - a business revolution? explored the opportunities and risks being driven by shifts in consumer behaviour, technology innovation and regulation. View our wider series of publications on markets and mechanisms.

Innovation

The Carbon Trust carries out in-depth studies on the opportunity for technology innovation to support the evolution of a vibrant, low carbon economy, and identifies the opportunities for government and businesses to invest in innovation. Our innovation studies range from offshore wind to micro CHP and biofuels system.

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is a key part of the transition to a low carbon economy. Globally, energy efficiency makes up about 25% of the total carbon abatement and 75% of the cost-effective abatement needed by 2030. Carbon Trust analysis shows that energy efficiency remains a big financial and carbon opportunity: around £3.6 billion and 29MtCO2e could be saved annually in UK businesses through improved energy efficiency. Internationally, energy efficiency remains a large opportunity for business to both reduce costs and improve environmental performance.

Buildings

Understanding markets, policies and opportunities for improved efficiency of the existing building stock and new buildings, and the opportunity for next-generation techniques and technologies for commercial buildings. View our publication Building the Future Today.

Global emissions, and sectoral mitigation opportunities

The "flow" of emissions embodied in trade can have a significant impact on the "consumption" emissions of sectors and countries. The Carbon Trust carries out leading analysis of global emissions production and consumption, providing business and policy makers with country and sector-specific analysis on which to base future carbon mitigation strategies.

Standards and benchmarks

The development and leverage of clear and robust standards will be a key component in measuring carbon emissions, incentivising action and demonstrating reductions over time. The Carbon Trust:

  1. Develops new standards (e.g. PAS 2050 for product carbon footprinting)
  2. Supports international standards development (through participation in expert international forums such as the International Standards Organisation)
  3. Leverages standards to drive performance (e.g. company recognition under the Carbon Trust Standard, and product-level recognition under the Carbon Reduction Label)