Showing articles associated with Tina Fawcett
Dr Tina Fawcett is a senior researcher in the Energy Programme at Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute, and Co-Director of CREDS – the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions, a multi-university research partnership.
Her research focuses on how and why we use energy, as individuals and organisations, and explores pathways and policies to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions. She has worked on a variety of topics including low energy renovation of homes, EU and UK energy efficiency policies, decision-making around energy, personal carbon allowances and the electrification of heating.
New projects include exploring ideas about sufficiency and energy, climate change education, developing values-based and co-benefits approaches to improving environmental advice for businesses and being a Co-Director of a research network on transforming heating and cooling for the net zero future.
Why is Oxford a good place to work in research related to environmental challenges?
Three key reasons
- A wonderful array of colleagues and students working on energy and environment research. Plus active environmental networks which allow us to learn from each other more broadly (Oxford Networks for the Environment).
- The brilliant academics, activists, business people and civic leaders who visit the university to share their knowledge and enthusiasm on environmental issues.
- Oxford and Oxfordshire are home to NGOs, local governments, businesses and many voluntary groups working to improve the local and global environment. It’s great to be somewhere where people outside the university are interested in our work, and we can use our expertise to directly contribute to change locally and beyond.
What is the biggest environmental challenge facing the planet right now?
There are two – which are linked: climate change and biodiversity loss.
Despite the challenges, are you optimistic about our future?
Yes, if I look at the solutions we and other research groups are developing. We know it should be possible to deliver a just transformation of our energy and transport systems (the major causes of climate change) to be very low or zero carbon. Yes, if I look at the groundswell of concern and determination to act exemplified by the school strikes for climate. No, if I look only at the scientific evidence on how the climate is changing and how we are damaging the natural world – that is very worrying.
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