Ideas for future (From Oxford Mail)

Ideas for future

3:32pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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THREE ideas from Oxford University have been chosen as potential breakthroughs for the 21st century.

Proposals to improve the energy efficiency of communities and reduce carbon emissions were among the 19 ideas chosen by the Sustainable Development Commission as most likely help transform the UK into a sustainable society.

The 19 were chosen as having the most potential for tackling climate change, resource depletion and inequality, from almost 300 ideas were submitted by the public, businesses, academics, and professionals.

One of the two Oxford ideas, Low Carbon Zones, comes from Dr Brenda Boardman of the university's Environmental Change Institute, focusing on improving housing efficiency.

Nick Eyre, also of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute, suggested personal carbon budgets to make emissions reductions relevant to individual citizens.

The third idea, Kyoto 2, from Oliver Tickell, proposed a new approach to the Kyoto Protocol, controlling emissions 'upstream' – at, or close to, where the fossil fuels are produced.

The Prince of Wales met the teams at a conference in London hosted by Anna Ford, Jonathan Dimbleby and Rosie Boycott.

SDC chair Jonathon Porritt said:"We wanted to celebrate the hard work behind these ideas, and start a bigger conversation about how the UK can best take these — and a host of other great ideas – forward.”