Report from the Mistra Carbon Exit program conference in Stockholm, September 12-13, 2019
Mistra Carbon Exit is in its third year and interesting results are being produced from the different sub projects. Road maps for the Swedish industry to move towards net zero emissions, tools for Sustainable Development Goals analysis and procurement requirements for carbon reduction in infrastructure projects are some of the deliveries so far.
During two inspiring days we brought together researchers, industry representatives, government agencies and NGO:s at our annual meeting in Stockholm. The objective of the conference was to inform each other about program activities, to present research results and discuss these among each other.
– What makes Mistra Carbon Exit so interesting is that we have not only the technical foundation but also do extensive work on policies and behavioural issues. We also try to take into account the sustainable development goals in the transformation towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions. It makes us a truly multidisciplinary program, says Lars Zetterberg, IVL, Program Director, Mistra Carbon Exit.
View the introduction presentation (PDF)
Below are short summaries of the conference sessions:
SESSION 1: Procurement requirements for carbon reduction in infrastructure construction projects
Speakers: Stefan Uppenberg, Sustainability Consultant at WSP. Anna Kadefors, Professor, Department of Real Estate and Construction Management at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Guest Professor at Chalmers University of Technology
Anna Kadefors: “Construction projects are always to some extent unique. Even if they include standardised parts their entirety is unique, and they are carried out by unique and temporary organisations involving numerous different companies.”
“We found that procurement requirements resulted from small groups of dedicated individuals working strategically to build competence and legitimacy for a long time.”
“If you introduce requirements and incentives that people don´t understand you get an increased risk for unrealistic tenders.”
“Working strategically with procurement requires close collaboration between several units within the client organization, especially procurement, environmental specialists and project management, and also with the supplier market.”
Key points from the presentation include:
There are many complications with functional reduction requirements
We can observe limited innovation and change potential in individual projects – long-term strategy needed
It’s important that procurement requirements must match competence and capacity development
Higher CO2 reduction levels require:
general improvements in efficiency and innovation – client competence and leadership
breaking the silo-thinking and create integrated supply chains – collaborative contracting models
View the full presentation (PDF)
SESSION 2: How is Mistra Carbon Exit aligned with the EU climate agenda?
Speakers: Johannes Morfeldt, Climate Analyst, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Lars Zetterberg, IVL, Program Director, Mistra Carbon Exit. Milan Elkerbout, Mistra Research Fellow
Johannes Morfeldt: “Climate change mitigation need to be integrated in all decision making, both within the EU and in Sweden.”
Milan Elkerbout: “The European Green New Deal is very comprehensive but a lot of the ideas affecting decarbonisation in general are dispersed throughout the entire commission. This will ask a lot of the coordination abilities of executive Vice President Frans Timmermans.”
Milan also presented the new commission and made a analyse of what impact the different commissioners will have.
Key points from the presentation include:
EU Commission suggests reaching net-zero by 2050 in its vision for the EU long-term strategy. It could be achieved through pathways covering energy efficiency, decarbonisation, mobility, circular economy, smart networks, bio-economy, carbon sinks and carbon capture and storage.
When comparing the EU Long Term Strategy with our research agenda we found notable overlaps in eight key areas: Roadmaps to decarbonisation, Mitigation costs, Efficient integration of renewable energy in the energy system, the role of EU ETS, Policies for deep decarbonisation, The benefits of a supply chain perspective, Electrification of transportation and CCS/Bio-CCS.
Focus of High level Group (HLG) on industrial transformation shows shift in terms of the EU climate debate closer to the priorities of Carbon Exit, but some contentious issues on the role of the EU ETS and accounting for “carbon avoidance” persevere.
View the full presentation, J. Morfeldt (PDF)
View the full presentation, L. Zetterberg (PDF)
View the full presentation, M. Elkerbout (PDF)
SESSION 3: How do we change behaviour to achieve climate goals?
Speakers: Victoria Wibeck, Professor, and Kajsa-Stina Benulic, Postdoc, Department of Thematic Studies – Environmental Change, and Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research, Linköping University. Magnus Hennlock, Senior Policy Researcher, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.
Kajsa-Stina Benulic: “To achieve long lasting societal transformations we need to include both the practical, the political and the personal sphere. We need to consider how they interact and how they are interrelated.”
Victoria Wibeck: “Climate leadership requires good communication. Among other things, it is important to lead by example.”
Magnus Hennlock: “Our studies in political leadership includes finding better policy instruments and understanding the behaviour of policy makers - if they don’t implement policy instruments, not much will happen.”
View the full presentation, M. Hennlock (PDF)
HIGHLIGHT: Collaboration in Innovation – Possibilities in new call from InfraSweden2030 and intentions from National Construction Forum
Speaker: Stefan Uppenberg, Sustainability Consultant at WSP
Stefan Uppenberg: “If you have issues or stumble upon things that could be interesting as innovation projects with collaborations with industry partners, please have the call in mind. The national construction forum (Anläggningsforum) is another possibility for collaborations.”
Key points from the presentation include:
Interconnection, digitalization, automation and AI in transport infrastructure
InfraSweden2030 Open Call, 24 Oct 2019 – 4 Feb 2020
View the full presentation (PDF)
SESSION 4: Workshop regarding Buildings and transportation infrastructure
Speakers: Johan Rootzén, PhD, Researcher, Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg. Ida Karlsson, PhD Candidate, Energy Technology, Chalmers University of Technology
Ida Karlsson: “Currently LKAB exports around 77% of its iron ore. One of the steel pathways explores the impacts from an increased production of hydrogen-reduced iron to replace half of current iron ore exports. While dramatically increasing the electricity demand up to 33 TWh, this replacement could contribute to a large reduction of CO2 emissions from iron-making outside of Sweden.”
Key points from the presentation include:
Mistra Carbon Exit roadmaps:
Explore different future trajectories of technological developments
Define key decision points
Consequences for the energy system
Each of the roadmaps describe:
Technological options and alternative pathways
Time line
Risks, enablers & barriers
View the full presentation (PDF)
Workshop followed: Building materials and Buildings and Transportation infrastructure.
Closing remarks of conference
Speakers: Lars Zetterberg, IVL, Program Director, Mistra Carbon Exit. Filip Johnsson, Chalmers University of Technology, Deputy Program Director
Lars Zetterberg and Filip Johnsson ended the conference by thanking all participants, speakers and all who contribute to this project. They emphasized the importance of linking different analyses together and collecting success stories where the program has had an impact among industries, authorities or in our own network.
Coming up:
Policy reports linked to road maps
Local arenas – Uppsala
Seminar this fall – Bio-CCS
3 webinars: building and construction – September 20, October 16, November 14
EU-policy briefs
Mistra Evaluation and next phase
For further project information, please contact Lars Zetterberg, 010-7886557, lars.zetterberg@ivl.se.