OUR WORK
Scotland Beyond Net Zero is a coalition designed to catalyse research collaboration, empower our communities and inform the policymaking and action Scotland needs to reach its ambitious targets.
Scotland Beyond Net Zero’s partner universities, will work to combine our research strengths to build interdisciplinary collaborations around six core themes: Built Environment, Energy, Finance, Food, Natural Systems, and Transport. Read more about each of these themes and meet the related researchers via the quick links below.
From research in modern architecture, urban planning, and civil engineering to the design of energy-efficient buildings and the use of sustainable construction materials, our researchers are considering how the world that we have forged around us holds the potential to accelerate our race to achieving Net Zero.
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Energy is perhaps the most obvious research area that springs to mind when considering our goal of achieving net-zero emissions. From increased understanding of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power to improving energy efficiency and storage capabilities, research into energy is fundamental to achieving our goal of reaching net zero emissions.
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Interestingly, finance is closely linked to the climate crisis, but academic research can highlight the ways that investment practices can align with sustainability objectives. Financial investments should channel efforts towards low-carbon and climate-resilient projects to help accelerate the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
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Almost a third of greenhouse gas emissions are associated with our current food systems. To understand the role food production plays in achieving net zero, we’re bringing together interdisciplinary research that looks at the impact and opportunities across multiple stages of the food supply lifecycle.
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The true power of nature and its ability to help solve the climate crisis is still widely unknown. Through research into ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural processes, we can unlock the knowledge to develop strategies that harness nature’s potential to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change.
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With a wave of new developments and advancements in environmental technologies, it’s an exciting and pivotal moment in the transportation sector. Further research aims to understand how cutting-edge technologies can not only mitigate the transport sector’s traditional environmental impacts, but shape the future of how we get around.
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The true power of nature and its ability to help solve the climate crisis is still widely unknown. Through research into ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural processes, we can unlock the knowledge to develop strategies that harness nature’s potential to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change.
Academic research in reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable land management can enhance the capacity of natural systems to absorb and store carbon dioxide.
Understanding the intricate relationships within ecosystems can inform sustainable practices that preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. Academic insights into the functioning of natural systems provide a foundation for developing nature-based solutions, such as carbon offset projects and sustainable forestry practices, which are integral components of strategies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality.
Through an enhanced understanding of natural systems, academic research can continue to contribute to the development of innovative approaches that play a crucial role in realising net-zero goals.
Meet the researchers involved with studies on natural systems and nature’s role in combating the climate crisis:
Professor of Food and Environmental Security
liz.baggs@ed.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Urban Development
Karen.Bell.2@glasgow.ac.uk
Chancellor’s Fellow in Environmental Humanities
hannah.boast@ed.ac.uk
Interdisciplinary Director for Environment and Biodiversity
d.burslem@abdn.ac.uk
Lecturer in Fire Science
Z.Campbell.Lochrie@ed.ac.uk
Professor in Strategy and Technology Management
john.crawford@glasgow.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Geography, Sustainability and Environment
Ria.Dunkley@glasgow.ac.uk
Lecturer in Environmental Fluid Mechanics
teaves001@dundee.ac.uk
Chancellor's Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Geosciences
janet.fisher@ed.ac.uk
Lecturer in nature-based solutions and hydrogeological modelling
Alejandro.ollauri@gcu.ac.uk
Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage
Stuart.Haszeldine@ed.ac.uk
Professor of Sustainable Biotechnology
Louise.Horsfall@ed.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer (Undergraduate Medical School)
Camille.Huser@glasgow.ac.uk
Director of the Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice
t.jafry@gcu.ac.uk
Principal Investigator Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences
smckim@dundee.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Anthropogenic Geomaterials
john.macdonald.3@glasgow.ac.uk
Professor of Urban and Environmental Studies
Alice.Mah@glasgow.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Ocean Observation
emedina@ed.ac.uk
Professor, Civil Engineering and Environmental Management
Slobodan.Mickovski@gcu.ac.uk
Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics
dominic.moran@ed.ac.uk
Professor of Geomorphology and Environmental Geography
Larissa.Naylor@glasgow.ac.uk
Professor of Evolutionary Parasitology
Sarah.reece@ed.ac.uk
Lecturer in Science, Technology and Innovation Studies
eugenia.rodrigues@ed.ac.uk
Professor of Physical Geography
j.s.rowan@dundee.ac.uk
https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/john-rowan
Business Development Manager, School of GeoSciences
stuart.simmons@ed.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Theatre, Film & Television Studies
Inge.Sorensen@glasgow.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Systems Thinking
agnessa.spanellis@ed.ac.uk
Lecturer in Environment and Development
sam.staddon@ed.ac.uk
Professor of Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Technology
Mark.Symes@glasgow.ac.uk
Senior Research Partnership Manager, SBNZ
K.Symons@ed.ac.uk
Director of the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN)
george.tarvit@ed.ac.uk
Professor of Environmental and Climate Science
Jaime.Toney@glasgow.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Education Studies
Professor of Landscape Architecture
c.ward-thompson@ed.ac.uk
Programme Manager, Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage
gillian.white@sccs.org.uk
Reader in Interdisciplinary Research in Education
Anna.Wilson.2@glasgow.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Systems, Power and Energy
Siming.You@glasgow.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Supply Chain Management and Technology
Abraham.Zhang@glasgow.ac.uk
Read the latest articles about natural systems from our universities.
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