Policy Assessment at SEI
Translating the effect of policy decisions on individual and collective behavior is difficult. Quantifying the impact of resident behaviour on the environment can be more complicated still. Scenarios are inherently uncertain, given the large number of variables possible related to population, economic conditions and cultural change. Even so, scenarios do have real deliberative value and can be used to offer insight into the potential impact of policies during the decision making process.
Using REAP, SEI create scenarios which can be used to help compare the footprint impact of alternative policy interventions. The scenarios we create are best applied at the strategic level because they look at the potential impact of changes in consumption patterns of a population of an area as a whole. REAP can be used to help answer questions such as:
- How will exisitng policy influence the carbon footprint of our area over the next 10 years?
- Where should we focus our efforts to ensure the greatest reduction in our footprint by 2020?
- What scale of intervention is neccessary for us to stabalise our emissions by 2015?
- What combination of interventions would bring about 'one planet living' by 2050?
This type of analysis can be carried out at a national, regional or local level with a focus on all areas of consumption activity. To find out more take a look at our recent projects for Leeds City Region, Wales, the South East and Ashford.
A transformation scenario for the South East. This chart takes into account historical trends and shows what is needed to reduce the ecolgocial footprint of the South East by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. Source: Reducing the South East's ecological footprint and carbon emissions: a route map. Published by CAG, 2008
The use of REAP in Scotland has been reviewed by the EPSRC ISSUES Project who look at urban sustainability.
"The Sustainable Urban Environments Programme is an EPSRC funded portfolio of research looking at ways of improving sustainability in the urban environment." (taken from www.urbansustainabilityexchange.org.uk, July 2010)
The full report titled "The Process of Knowledge Transfer from Researcher and Policy Maker to End-User" provides an analysis of the footprinting work done in Scotland and the use of REAP by Scottish Local Authorities. It is available here.
REAP Version 2
Please contact us to get your latest copy of REAP. Read the full news article by clicking more below to find out about the updates and what the type of licence you require.
See the REAP pages for details about licence costs and training packages.
REAP Petite has been updated and improved.
To download a free copy click here
If you are a license holder, contact SEI to get your new version.
SEI have just released a policy brief on Scotland's Footprint.
Our study has shown that Scotland's carbon footprint has grown by 11 per cent since 1992.
The figure includes greenhouse gases released overseas during the production of goods later consumed in Scotland and so is the most accurate gauge of the country's emissions to date.
While emissions generated in Scotland fell by 13 percent between 1995 and 2004, when trade is taken account, greenhouse gases rose by 11 per cent over the same period.
The full policy brief can be found on SEI's website.
An article has also be published in the Sunday Herald and can be found here.