Project seeks to tackle Big Dilemmas on sustainability

The project’s theme for this year is ‘The Future of Renewable Energy in the UK - Lessons from the Severn Barrage’. This aims to explore issues specifically around tidal energy, particularly plans to build a power-generating barrage across the Severn Estuary. These plans were shelved in October this year.

The launch event involved a symposium including speakers from Exeter’s Climate Change and Sustainable Futures (CCSF) research theme. The Exeter speakers were joined by: a global expert in tidal energy, Professor Roger Falconer, of Cardiff University; the Director of Devon Wildlife Trust, Paul Gompertz; and the popular naturalist and broadcaster, Nick Baker.

The event was held simultaneously via videolink at the university’s Streatham campus, in Devon, and at Tremough, in Cornwall, to reduce its carbon footprint and widen participation.

More than 150 students, and community and business stakeholders listened to speakers explore a range of views around the development of renewable energy projects and the safeguarding of biological diversity.

Professor Peter Cox introduced the theme of the symposium and gave an update on the latest findings with regards to climate change.

He was followed by Professor Falconer, who discussed technical and economical aspects of potential tidal energy developments in the Severn Estuary. He argued that, despite recent setbacks, the Severn Barrage is likely to go ahead in the long term because it would offer lucrative returns on business investments.

Professor Patrick Devine-Wright from Exeter discussed so-called ‘NIMBYism’ and proposed some key social and psychological processes that are important in shaping public responses to renewable energy projects.

This was followed up with Paul Gompertz emphasising the value of the Severn Estuary as an ecosystem service and explaining it is an essential food source and habitat for numerous migratory birds and fish. He also acknowledged climate change poses a serious threat to biodiversity and that renewable energy projects have a role in building a low carbon economy.

Following the presentations, Professor Cox chaired a panel that included Nick Baker and Professor Falconer, as well as Catherine Mitchell, Professor of Energy Policy at Exeter.

Speaking after the symposium, Nick Baker said: “The Big Dilemmas project is a big step forward for the University in tackling complex sustainability issues. There is clearly not a straightforward answer to address the challenges of climate change and loss of biological diversity, but it is encouraging to see that the brightest students and lead academics are working hard towards solutions.”

In addition to the symposium, the project also involves the formation of a Big Dilemmas think tank to which twenty of the brightest students from across the university have been appointed.

In the next five months the students will meet regularly with lead academics, experts and stakeholders to examine the complex issues raised and propose ways forward. They will present their findings to stakeholders in March 2011.

Professor Brendan Godley, who is one of the lead academics on the project, said: "The meeting was even more successful than I had envisioned. The degree of engagement of our students from multiple disciplines was very gratifying. I was left with some confidence that the environmental leaders of the future are being trained here at the University of Exeter."

The project is sponsored by the University of Exeter’s Annual Fund – an annual appeal which seeks the philanthropic support of alumni and friends to invest in the University and to enhance further Exeter’s status as a world-class institution.

For more information on the Big Dilemmas Project, please contact Harriet Sjerps-Jones (h.sjerps-jones@exeter.ac.uk).