By Tom Addison, Policy Manager, The Physiological Society
As part of the Spending Review, the UK Government confirmed its ambition to invest 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027 and increase public spending on R&D to £22bn per year by 2026. This is designed as part of the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda to increase prosperity and wellbeing across the UK’s nations and regions. As such, is a timely that despite COVID restrictions, The Physiological Society’s policy team continues to engage regularly with devolved administrations on R&D policy.
Notwithstanding, the immediate political impetus for the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, all three national STEM promotion events with representatives from devolved governments and administrations have focused on the longer-term (though no less important) issues raised at COP26.
Science and the Senedd kicked off this year’s calendar of events with participation from the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor Peter Halligan, as well as Dr Ian Mabbett from the University of Swansea, who kindly provided a short case study on his interdisciplinary research into rapid, non-fossil fuel heating options for rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. From the Senedd itself, we were joined by Janet Finch-Saunders MS, the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, David Rees MS, Deputy Presiding Officer of the Senedd and Chair of the Cross-Party Group on STEMM and Jane Dodds MS, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
In October, it was the turn of Northern Ireland’s politicians. Chaired by Helen Pain, Royal Society of Chemistry CEO, the panel included Steve Aiken OBE MLA and John Blair MLA. The panel discussed how initiatives such as the Belfast Climate Commission could inform and advise decision-makers on the most effective steps required to meet carbon reductions and promote more sustainable practices among businesses and the wider public.
The event also included a presentation from Lt Cdr Paul Hart who has led expeditions across the globe for over 35 years and has operated in some of the most demanding environments on Earth, from the jungles, to the deserts, to Himalayas to the Polar Regions. The length of his career gave the audience an opportunity to reflect on the environmental changes he had already witnessed and the impact that this had on both the humans and animals that inhabit those areas.
Last week was the final of the national parliamentary science meetings with Science and the Parliament hosted virtually ‘from’ the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson MSP was joined by the SNP’s Fiona Hyslop MSP, Mark Ruskell MSP from the Scottish Greens, Willie Rennie MSP from the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Liam Kerr MSP from the Scottish Conservatives and Michael Marra MSP from Scottish Labour.
The MSP panel grappled with issues such as a ‘just transition’ to Net Zero. A just transition seeks to ensure that the substantial benefits of a green economy transition are shared widely, while also supporting those who stand to lose economically1. For Scotland in particular, employment in the energy sector stood at 71,000 in 2019, accounting for 2.7% of employment in Scotland and median weekly full-time earnings across the Scottish energy sector were over £200 a week greater than the Scottish national average (1).
This presents a significant challenge to ensure that communities are not left behind as decision-makers try to balance the need to decarbonise economies with the need for high-paying jobs across Scotland.
Given all three national events focused on COP26 and the role of each nation on supporting the global ambition of Net Zero by 2050, the launch of The Physiological Society’s report Physiology and climate change was very timely. The report discusses a number of issues explored throughout the three devolved parliamentary events including how humans can adapt to climate change and the impact of increased temperatures on existing societal challenges such as an ageing population.
References
- Scottish Government. Office of the Chief Economic Adviser: Growth Sector Briefing – Energy. 9 November 2021.