Nick Harrison

In May I moved to Germany and took up a new position in the International Climate Strategies Unit of Ecofys, based in Cologne. Its a great company and a fantastic unit! Smart,  dedicated specialists covering all the key aspects of climate and energy policy/strategy.  Our office is a pretty groovy ‘passive house’ design and apparently the most energy efficient in Europe! My first project is for UNEP, building on the success of their 2010 Emissions Gap Report, I’m working with their chief scientist and 30-40 other international climate science and policy specialists to produce a report ready for the UNFCCC in Durban. Many other projects in the pipeline and as everyone who’s seen the recent international emissions data knows there is much to do and fast!

Just spent an interesting week hidden away in the halls of Oxford university at the Climate Development Knowledge Network - Climate Action Lab. Joining 150 climate change and development specialists from across the world we we’re stimulated and provoked by a range of speakers and many, many conversations with some great folks working in all kinds of diverse issues and contexts globally. Near the end of the week we began ‘innovating’ ideas which we now plan to carry forward in working groups. My group will be working on a new metric/tool to help funders/investors/practitioners to better take account of climate adaptation, mitigation and biodiversity impact when designing, managing and evaluating development interventions. What this space for more…

Throughout Autumn/Winter I was contracted by AUSAid to support research exploring the structure and agency of sustainable development leadership development across a number of diverse international regions. The research, funded by the Australian government’s Developmental Leadership Program (and building on an earlier programme managed by the World Bank) contributes to a growing body of understanding which addresses an important gap in international thinking and policy about the critical role played by leaders, elites and coalitions in the politics of development. This growing program brings together business, academic and civil society partners from around the world to explore the role of human agency in the processes of development. As part of a series of research papers for the DLP, this research paper traces the evolution of LEAD International and its approach to facilitating the emergence of developmental leaders and coalitions over the past 20 years.

This month, I was appointed to the roster of experts for the new Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). The CDKN aims to provide key skills and knowledge to developing country decision makers through commissioning applied research, providing technical assistance and facilitating knowledge sharing to enable them to better adapt to the impacts of climate change and to build low carbon economies.

This week I attended the LSE Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy conference on ’Grand Challenges in the Transition towards a low carbon, climate resilient society‘. Its a while since I sat through a whole day of lectures but the speakers and content held my interest and I came away with plenty of food for thought (and a few new concepts to read up on - which is always the sign of a worthwhile day!).

The event kicked off with some fascinating ‘practitioner’ insights from Michael Jacobs (former special adviser on climate change to PM Gordon Brown) who gave an excellent keynote on the practical challenges of creating political will for effective climate change action. Its been said that making-policy and legislation is a bit like sausage-making (no-one likes to know what goes into it). However, like the other academics and practitioners around me, I have a keen interest in both the ingredients and the recipes, so Michael’s anecdotes from the corridors of power had ears pricked across the room. At the core of his presentation, he presented five components he considered to be key ingredients: (1) Evidence - presenting authoritative and trustworthy evidence to create an underlying basis for action (hence the attack by climate change critics on the UEA and IPCC data in attempts to undermine this trust); (2) Economic Discourse - providing the economic basis for action (as the inspiration for the Stern Review, Jacobs explained how its original purpose had been to pursuade HMT officials of the imperative to act on climate change - instead it quickly became the global discourse on the economic imperative for climate change action); (3) Business and NGO Engagement - Friends of the Earth were the original architects of what become the world’s first national climate change law and the value and importance of close negotiation between government and civil society was highlighted as critical to crystalising both what could and should be done by government. Jacobs also cited the role of the business community is critical - with initiatives like the Prince of Wales’s Business Leaders Forum being an important catalyst for political support from the private sector; (4) Political Badge - namely inspiring or inculcating the importance of climate change action into the political ‘identity’ and ‘narrative’ of political leaders (so they wear it as a political ‘badge’ or stated aim of what they want to get done) is critical. At which point Jacobs argued that, contrary to popular opinion, the UN talks in Copenhagen had actually been a success (cue collective scoff from the audience) on the basis that despite the negotiations being a failure, all major countries (including the USA) had made some kind of written down commitment to addressing climate change - indicating the importance of the issue in the global political narrative; and lastly (5) The Moment - that ‘magic moment’ where the previous four ingredients come together to produce a critical mass of political will, and with luck, a leap forward.

Other presentations throughout the day included CCCEP deputy director Simon Dietz’s concise and informative summary of current understanding of climate risks, uncertainties and impacts (which included observations about the predominance of expected utility theory in the evaluation of climate policy and a neat - if a little annoying - video on the ellsburg paradox); a useful summary of policy instruments from Sam Fankhauser, focussing on eco-tax and cap and trade (commenting that despite the former being more economically efficient, the later has shown to be far more politically implementable); other presentations from the CCCEP team on governance and adaptation; and a final plenary discussion on the grand challenges for future research. The challenges discussed included: (a) the need to better understand other non-economic instruments (e.g. information-based and capacity building); (b) The need for better understanding of adaptation risks and opportunities (in particular the role of business); (c) The role of business in the political economy (e.g. lobbying from both potential winners and losers from new policy measures)’ and (d) the role of security (e.g. in terms of resources and in terms of terrorism) as a driver.

Last week I taught on a new Practical Sustainability Course launching in Bristol this year, introducing climate change to an enthusiastic group of 23 eager new participants, whilst trying very hard not to sound like Al Gore! Its not something I usually do (the preparation time! respect to teachers everywhere!!) but I liked the idea of a training course teaching practical/applied community sustainability, so what the heck!

Although this session was probably the least ‘practical’ of all the session’s on this new course, it hopefully served as useful context for participants as they move from ideas to action throughout their training. If you’re thinking of running something similar, then do get in touch and I’ll happily share materials and thoughts.

Earlier this month I undertook an assignment for DFID reviewing recent field research into the role of the private sector in developing country climate adaptation. Its now clear that even with the help of the international community, many developing country governments simply will not be able to ‘climate-proof’ their environment, communities and economies alone or in time. The private sector therefore has a vital role to play. Not only through protecting its own operations and value through climate proofing strategic, business and project planning processes, but also by helping the communities in which it operates (and relies on for staff, customers and suppliers) to do the same. Helping to build economic resilience to climate impacts requires innovation and delivery of many new products and services - everything from new agricultural and water technologies to supply-chain management and insurances services. All this will require stronger collaboration between businesses, government and communities at national and local levels and to effectively manage the risks and take advantage of the opportunities will require effective strategic leadership from business.

During 2010-11 I’ll be a member of a British Standards Institution (BSi) committee developing the British Standard for Sustainable Communities. The emergence of such a standard just shows how much sustainable development has become business-as-usual. The BSi is a non-profit distributing organisation, the world’s first national standards organisation and currently operates around 27,000 standards across a wide range of sectors. It has a global reputation for independence, integrity and innovation.

This month I’ve been working with the newly formed Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) supporting development of the global partnership strategy. The CDKN aims to provide key skills and knowledge to developing country decision makers through commissioning applied research, providing technical assistance and facilitating knowledge sharing to enable them to better adapt to the impacts of climate change and to build low carbon economies:

Over the coming three years it aims to facilitate ‘climate compatible development’ to helping to ensure that development goals are pursued in ways which do not further contribute to, or suffer from the impacts of climate change. The ambitious programme, funded by DFID is being delivered by a coalition of organisationsincluding PwC, ODI and LEAD International.

Using illustration for facilitating and communicating ideas can be an art form and here’s a nice example of it at work from a lecture by the RSA’s Matthew Taylor interpreted by the visual talents of Cognitive Media and edited together (by my cousin Raf) so the illustration synchronises with the speaking. There are more examples on the RSAnimate webpages.

In February I was a judge for the regional finals of the national design competition Sustain our Nation. The competition (run by the Audi Design Foundation) is open to design students who wish to set up viable enterprises that will also return environmental and social benefits. As judges we deliberated over what turned out to be some excellent proposals from some very talented young designers.

After a day of  ’Dragon’s Den’ style presentations from the finalists, after much deliberation we awarded the £10,000 prize to Jack Seal and Liam Curtis for their social enterprise initiative ‘Freeflush’ which utilises a simple rainwater catchment system allowing rainwater to be used for toilet flushing. It provides 75% of water used in flushing and creates potential annual savings of more than 20,000 litres of potable water per household. As judges we were impressed with how the design promised potential environmental benefits in water (and consequently carbon emissions) savings, along with social benefits providing training and jobs for local unemployed and clear economic benefits to the local economy and through savings for householders.

Jack Seal explains:  “Water conservation is a major challenge.  The south-west has the highest water rates in the country. By utilising rainwater we will be significantly reducing the water bills for many - initially for the south-west but obviously the initiative could expand to other parts of the country.”

Judges for the Regional Final for the South comprised:  Professor Isobel Pollock, Audi Design Foundation Trustee & Royal Academy of Engineering visiting Professor, University of Leeds; Ted Matthews, Project Manager, Urban ideas Bakery for British Council; David Constantine, Executive Officer of Motivation UK; Lucy Findlay, Chief Executive of RISE; Nick Harrison, Climate Change & Sustainability Adviser; Dominic Murphy, Executive Director of Creating Excellence; Mark Stevens of GSS Architecture; and Rebecca Edge, Consultant for the Audi Design Foundation.

October 18-24 I spent a week at Oxford University with students and staff from the ECI and LEAD fellows from over 17 countries discussing some of the key challenges in delivering solutions to mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts across the globe. The week was full of energy and vigorous discussion (sometimes lasting into the night) and I have the feeling will be the beginning of some long and fruitful relationships. It was great to meet many of the ECI team who are delivering cutting edge research into contemporary environmental challenges and this year’s MSc students who are a fantastic cohort of environmental leaders in the making! Additional to the various presentations and seminars throughout the week such as UKCIP’s director Chris West, we also attended a lecture by Jeff Sachs who neatly summarised some of the systemic governance failures which led us into the recent financial crisis and could (if not properly addressed) exacerbate looming environmental crises (listen here).

At the close of the week we also took the opportunity to discuss development of a LEAD Climate Solutions Group (leveraging the combined skills and knowledge of the 2000+ LEAD fellows across the world) which promises some exciting prospects for practical, cross-sectoral collaborations in future. Watch this space…

So I did it. In a steady 2 hours 9 minutes and 49 seconds and just 68 minutes shy of the British record! Coming 7,324th out of 16,177 (in the first half at least) this is the longest I’ve ever run without stopping and I’m chuffed.

So far I’ve raised over £350 for FRANK Water Projects and the pledges are stilling coming in so thanks very much to all of you who donated. Alot of people in India will soon have access to fresh, clean water thanks to your generosity and the great work of Katie, Tom and the team at FRANK.

In August I was invited by LEAD International to take part in their inaugural Climate Change Learning Exchange at Oxford University. From 18-23 October, myself and 19 other LEAD fellows working on climate change across the world will be joining research fellows and students at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI) for a week long forum of learning and debate, informed by the latest thinking and broad experience of tackling climate change across the globe.

Considering themes such as ecosystems adaptation, urban transformation and innovation in carbon management the 60+ strong forum will provide an excellent opportunity for reflection, bringing together budding thought leaders to consider the latest research and thinking with diverse professional perspectives from experience of leading change on the ground. Its set to be a stimulating week which is sure to incubate exciting new collaborations.

In July 2009 myself and Dr Angela Hartman (Bristol University) were awarded a grant through Bristol University’s Global Change Environmental Risk program which we will be using to undertake some focussed research examining drivers and barriers to the deployment of environmental technology. The grant will enable us to undertake a fascinating study of some of the individual, political and organisational dynamics involved in the transition to a low-carbon economy. With growing urgency to ensure both climate and energy security and an increasing appetite for renewable energy and environmental technology deployment here in the UK, we hope that what we learn through the course of the study will be both insightful and of practical value. Whilst still at an early planning stage, we are currently considering using the live consultation and debate around tidal power in the Severn estuary as a case study to explore the issues. Research findings are due to be reported in mid 2010. Watch this space or get in touch for more information or to contribute to the study.