Critically analyse how the Global Energy Assessment pathways represent future socio-technological change in the energy system, focussing on the building sector.

Abstract There has been growing concern surrounding climate variegate everywhere repenny years and oftentimes emphasis has been pose upon the government agency of lifes in which the environs passel be protected. Accordingly, because of how important it is for organisations and individuals to pick go forth milieually friendly practices, military forceive environmental controls atomic function 18 vital. There is practically debate as to the finish to which the globular push legal opinion pathways illustrate next socio-technological transmute in the cypher carcass, yet this study intends to come up this out by focussing on the create celestial sphere.IntroductionThe authorities has placed a great deal of emphasis upon climate change in recent years by exploring the antithetic ways it basin be tackled (Department for International Development, 2011 13). The Department of heartiness and Climate Change aims to benefit sure that the UK has secure, clean and affordable zip supplies (DEEC, 2014 1) and seeks to promote international run in found to eliminate climate change. In 2012 the globose Energy Assessment (GEA) was therefore launched and a new global push insurance policy agenda was established (GEA Writing Team, 2012 4). The GEA intended to change the way hunting lodge uses and delivers strength in enounce to mitigate climate change. In doing so, it brings in concert hundreds of international researchers to provide an analysis of the menstruation issues that be and to identify the come-at-able options that can be taken in tackling climate change. Technology options and policies be similarly acknowledged in the GEA and be considered vital in defend the environment and brinytaining sustainable ontogenesis (GEA, 2014 1). As n iodind by greening, the depository of State for International Development The long-term returns of climate change threaten to undermine progress in reducing global poorness (Department for International Development, 2011 3). This is the of import reason why the UK is committed to helping create countries adapt to climate change in a positive way by ensuring that they take up low carbon growth and efficaciously tackle deforestation. This study go out therefore examine some of the globular Energy Assessment pathways, by focusing on the edifice arena, in order to consider the sets these volition hold back upon the animation system in the future.Socio-Technological Change in the Energy System In order for climate change to be tackled strongly, socio-technological changes be needed within the dexterity system. This can be ascertained by reviewing the different sectors which squeeze the environment and then considering what socio-technological changes ar required. The building sector has a significant impact upon the environment because of the point that it accounts for one-third of the planets total faculty use (Global Alliance, 2012 1). Technological im provements to buildings atomic number 18 therefore a cost-effective way of mitigating climate change. By using active proven technologies we have the office right to reduce aught consumption in new and existing buildings by 30-50 percent at extremely low or no cost, and usually at negative cost (Global Alliance, 2012 1). Increased building talent is therefore the future for the building sector because not only do greener buildings help to promote sustainability but they argon also better for the consumer in that they are to a greater extent comfortable and cheaper to avow (NAR, 2014 1). The pathways for transition that have been explored in the GEA therefore need to be followed if the building sector is to change state more brawniness cost-efficient. This is important given that GHG runs are expected to nearly look-alike by the year 2030 under a high-growth victimization scenario (Metz et al 2007 6). The GEA supports sustainability in the building sector by helping dec isions makers address the challenges associated with building development (CCCSEP, 2012 1).Energy Efficiency Barriers in the create Sector The building sector can contribute to tackling climate change through socio-technological change in the energy system, yet there are many another(prenominal) barriers towards improved efficacy in this sector. One of the main barriers that exists is a lack of technical, frugal and oecumenic knowledge about the energy sector. Not only does this knowledge spreadhead apply to consumers but it also applies to building inventers, architects and politicians (Urge-Vorsatz, 2012 702). Because of this lack of knowledge, it is very knotty for many of the technologies and practices that exist in this area to be implemented. Furthermore, although energy efficient practices are considered cost effective, they are not organism widely adopt due to the high initial start-up costs. The high upfront costs are olibanum discouraging, especially when there i s a lack of knowledge that exists in this area and unless greater sensation is provided, it is flimsy that the GEA pathways go forth have oft of an influence in the future. Market failures also provide barriers to energy skill because of the failures in the way the market operates (Urge-Vorsatz, 2012 702). Such flaws prevent the trade-off mingled with energy efficiency enthronisations and energy salve benefits. Behavioural barriers are also a problem for energy efficiency in the building sector as the behaviours of individuals and companies may be difficult to change. For example, individuals may fail to give the lights off in their homes, whilst organisations may fail to identify energy preservation opportunities, especially if they do not benefit directly from them.An example of this can be seen in relation to green leases since these are one of the main pathways to energy efficiency. potassium leases thus impose obligations on landlords and populates to achieve targ ets for energy consumption. This mark offs that the energy use of commercial-grade buildings is minimised through better measurement, greater awareness and systematic management (All Party urban Development Group, 2008 2). There are a effect of different green lease shades which toy different commitments to the green agenda light green leases represent a modest commitment to the agenda, whilst dark green leases reflect a much more serious commitment (Bright, 2008 158). Regardless of the benefits green leases have on the environment, however, they are not being used as much as they should. This is largely the result of the conventional relationship surrounded by the landlord (as building owner) and tenant (as occupier) which primarily neglects environmental considerations (Hinnells et al 2008, 1). The extent to which green leases represent future socio-technological change in the energy system is therefore unclear and it seems that get ahead changes are required if a more robu st system is to be implemented. Green leases should be used more frequently than they are at present, yet it is questionable whether this is belike to happen given that change may be rapid, disruptive and challenging (Hinnells et al 2008 1).Bright believes that capital investment impart brook for more efficient equipment to be introduced that impart allow for better energy frugalitys to be make (Bright, 2008 158). This exit elevate landlords and tenants to enter into a green lease if they can identify the substantial benefits that are associated with them. Consequently, it is evident when looking at green leases that one of the main barriers towards improved energy efficiency is the lack of awareness that exists. In order to remove this barrier to energy efficiency, campaigns and sector learning networks could be introduced in order to emergence the current awareness of GEAs ( carbon copy Trust, 2005 16). Furthermore, actions could also be taken that raise the attention of building owners such as measure incentives and low interest loans (Rezendes, 1994 41). This will allow greater access to energy efficient equipment and will encourage individuals to take advantage of the opportunities that are available. other barrier towards energy efficiency in the building sector is proceeding costs and the limited availability of capital. Because building owners do not generally have spare capital available to make their buildings more energy efficient, they are less apparent to take the GEA pathways into consideration (Ecofys, 2012 3). Furthermore, as has been pointed out financial barriers to the penetration of energy efficiency and building integrated distributed generated technologies include factors that increase the investments costs and/or decrease savings resulting from the improvement (Urge-Vorsatz, 2012 698).Arguably, building owners are unlikely to make energy efficient changes if they are not also cost-effective despite the fact that the equipmen t is more efficient. This could also be rectified through tax incentives and low interest loans, yet economic instruments could also be introduced that reduce the overall costs of the equipment. Energy prices could also be increased so that going green would be more of an incentive than it is at present. This is because, unless there are significant cost benefits of go more energy efficient, it is unlikely that individuals will be actively boost to do so. Market misalignment is another barrier that prevents the consistent trade-off between specific energy-efficient investment and the societal energy-saving benefits (The Carbon Trust, 2005 16). An example of this can be seen in relation to tenant-landlord relationships where companies have no direct control over the premises and so are reluctant to invest in energy efficiency. This barrier could be overcome through the provision of split-incentives. This would encourage landlords to become more energy efficient if they were being i ncentivised to do so. If the GEA pathways are implemented, the environment will benefit significantly from this and the passivhaus standard will be utilize in the building sector. This standard is the robust approach to building design which seeks to minimise the heating demand of buildings by building houses that have majestic thermal performance (Passivhaus, 2011 1). Unless it is less costly for builders to employ the passivhaus standard, there will be no incentive for them to do so as they will not benefit from the reduced energy savings.GEA Pathways for the Energy Efficiency alterationBecause of how important it is to protect the environment, it is necessary that the multiple objectives outlined in the GEA are being met through environmental control. The main objective of the GEA pathways is to understand the faction of measures, time scales and costs that are needed to transform the energy system. In understanding this, however, it is necessary to first identify the energy efficiency barriers that exist so that appropriate measures can be implemented to alleviate them. trim thermal energy use is achievable through a number of different pathways such as best practice in building design, construction and operation the elimination of energy poverty the increase of spiritedness space and economic development ((Urge-Vorsatz, 2012 703). Before these pathways can be incorporated, it will be necessary to for significant investments to be made as sound as the mental home of new appliances and technology and discounted energy saving costs. Because this will require high start-up costs, increased knowledge of the GEA pathway benefits will be needed so that individuals and organisations will be incentivised to adopt such pathways. Hence, many approaches have already been implemented to manage pollution-generating processes (Stuart, 2006 1), yet it cannot be utter that the obligations placed upon individuals under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and th e EUs Council Directive 96/61/EC to control the environment are being realised (McEldowney and McEldowney, 2010 48). This is likely to be the result of market failures and behavioral barriers since individuals and organisations may not be able to identify when an energy saving opportunity arises. Nevertheless, since the Climate Change Act 2008 was first enacted various temperance and adaption strategies have been introduced, such as the Governments Green cut across. The objective of this deal was to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the increase of global temperature could be decreased. The Green plug has been considered a welcoming development because of the fact that it has enabled the energy efficiency of many households and businesses to be improve without consuming so much energy and wasting so much coin (DEEC, 2010 1). This is unspoilt for consumers and is likely to reduce the initial startup costs. The Green Deal is also effective in increasing the awareness of e nergy saving benefits, which is likely to remove any subsisting behavioral barriers.Conversely, it has been argued that the implementation of the GEA pathways may in truth jumper allow for to further energy use, through the so-called rebound effect (Gillingham et al, 2013 474). Although the GEA have identified the possible re-bound effect the implementation of their pathways may have, it seems as though little consideration has been given to this (GEA, 2012 1573). Accordingly, it cannot be said that the barriers to energy efficiency have been given much thought and unless the behaviour of individuals and organisations change, it is unlikely that the GEA pathways will have much of an impact in the future. There are both direct and indirect rebound effects that are likely to occur. The direct rebound effect happens when people consume more energy as a result of the low costs, and the indirect rebound effect happens when people use savings from lower energy costs to leave out on ot her energy intensive activities (Sorrell, 2010 636). In view of this, is thereby essential that rebound effects are taken into consideration when evaluating how beneficial energy efficiency really is. As noted by Giillingham et al however Empirical evidence indicates that the direct rebound effect will dominate in the near term at around 10-30 per cent (2013 476). Regardless of this, it was also pointed out that rebound effects are not necessarily bad since the overall eudaemonia of society will be improved as a result. Therefore, even if the re-bound effect does not lead to a significant reduction in energy use, societal well-being will be improved. It is unclear whether the target of 80 per cent emission reductions by 2050 will be achieved since there are a number of different changes that need to be implemented in order for the barriers to energy efficiency to be overcome (Bell and McGillivray, 2008 531). In effect, whilst many implementations have been made towards establishing a sustainable future in the energy sector, the extent to which these have proven successful remains largely unclear. If the barriers to energy efficiency are removed and the GEA pathways are followed, there is a possibility that the emission reductions will be reduced by 2050, yet it remains to be seen whether this will be by 80 per cent. This is because as put by Riahi et al although the GEA pathways have shown that such a transformation is possible, the task remains and aspiring(prenominal) and will require rapid introduction of policies and fundamental policy changes that lead to coordinated efforts to integrate global concerns (2012 1300). Consequently, the barriers to energy efficiency will need to be overcome before the GEA pathways can be implemented, yet this is likely to prove extremely complex. Increased awareness would be the first tempo as this will lead to behavioural changes that will ensure the GEA pathways are being adopted.Conclusion Overall, whilst there are a nu mber of different GEA pathways that are intended to make effective socio-technological changes in the energy system, the extent to which these will prove successful remains unclear. This is because, whilst many of the pathways are considered effective ways of creating an environmentally friendly energy system, it cannot be said that the current mechanisms are being employed by all. This is evidenced by the introduction of green leases, which are aimed at establishing energy efficient ways of occupying commercial property. Whilst these leases do seem rather beneficial to both landlords and tenants, their place in the market has not yet been established. The lack of incentives may be one reason for this, which signifies how further benefits ought to be made available. In addition, the future of the mitigation and adaption strategies that have been implemented into the building sector is also unclear because of the fact organisations do not always co-operate in the implementation of s uch strategies. The re-bound effect is also not being given enough consideration and thus needs to be taken into account when analysing the GEA pathways. Consequently, in order to maintain sustainable development and minimise climate change, it is vital that the GEA pathways are being promoted a lot more so that the impact the building sector has on the environment can be minimised, yet in doing so the re-bound effect should be taken into account in order to ensure that a more realistic approach is undertakenReferences All Party Urban Development Group., (2008). Greening UK Cities Buildings Improving the Energy Efficiency of Our Offices, Shops and Factories. A advertise Delivered by the Officers, (2008), 20 contact 2014.Bell, S. and McGillivray, D. (2008). Environmental Law, 7th edn Oxford University Press.Bright, S., (2008). Going Green. 158 impudently Law Journal 1135, Issue 7333.CCCSEP. (2012) Global Energy Assessment Energy-Efficient Building Modelling Scenarios sum of mone y for Climate Change and sustainable Energy Policy, Centre European University, 29 jar against 2014.DEEC. (2010). What is the Green Deal? (2010) The Department for Energy & Climate Energy, Accessed 20 March 2014.Department for International Development. (2011) Tackling Climate Change, cut down Poverty, UK International Climate Fund, Accessed 19 March, 2014.Dowden, M., (2008). Property/Landlord & Tenant bellicose Carbon158 New Law Journal 1707, Issue 7348.Ecofys. (2012) The Benefits of Energy Efficiency why Wait? Sustainable Energy for Everyone, Accessed 30 March 2014.Gillingham, K. Kotchen, M. J. Rapson, D. S. and Wagner, G. (2013) The Rebound movement and Energy Efficiency Policy Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Online for sale http//www.yale.edu/gillingham/ReboundEffectLongForm.pdf 03 April, 2014.Global Alliance. (2012) Why Buildings, Global L-eadership in our Built Environment, Accessed 20 March 2014.Global Energy Assessment (GEA) Writing Team . (2012) Global Energy Assessment, Towards a Sustainable Future, New York Cambridge University press.Global Energy Assessment (GEA). (2014) Global Energy Assessment International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Accessed 19 March 2014.Hinnells, M., Bright, S., Langley, A., Woodford, L., Schiellerup, P., and Bosteels, T., (2008).McEldowney, J. and McEldowney, S. (2010) Environmental Law, world-class edition Longman.NAR. (2014) What is Green Building National Association of Realtors, Accessed 14 March 2014.Passivhaus. (2011) The Passivhaus Standard Online Available http//www.passivhaus.org.uk/standard.jsp?id=122 03 April 2014.Rezendes, V, S. (1994) Geothermal Energy, DIANE Publishing.Riahi, K., et al (2012) Global Energy Assessment, Chapter 17, Online Available http//www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/Flagship-Projects/Global-Energy-Assessment/GEA_Chapter17_pathways_lowres.pdf 03 April 2014.Sorrell, S. J. (2010) Dimitropoulus, The Rebound Effect Microeconomic Definitions, Lim itations and Extensions bionomical Economics, 65(3) 636-649.Stuart, R. (2006) Command and Control Regulation, The Encyclopaedia of Earth, Accessed 20 March 2014.The Carbon Trust. (2005) The UK Climate Change Programme Potential Evolution for Business and the humankind Sector Making Business Sense of Climate Change, Accessed 29 March 2014.The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DEEC). (2014) What we do, Gov.uk, Accessed 20 March 2014.The Greening of Commercial get hold ofs. Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 20 March 2014.James, R., (2010). Not indulgent Being Green. Property Law Journal 22, 20 March 2014.King, V., (2009). Is My Lease Green32 Companys Secretary Review 24, Issue 24.LRCI., (2009). Guidance Green Commercial Leases. Low Carbon Research Institute Convergence Programme, 20 March 2014.Urge-Vorsatz, D. (2012) Energy End Use Buildings Accessed 29 March 2014.