The Goldilocks Number: Which 2035 Target Is Just Right?

Support us on Patreon... Tennant, Luke and Frankie are calling all Summerupperers to come join the expanded LMSU universe and support our Patreon! Sign up for access to covetous BoCo like bonus episodes, our notes on papers read, custom memes and climate mash ups of 70s soul hits! Head on over to https://www.patreon.com/LetMeSumUp.—The demand side of the energy system equation is near and dear to the hearts of your your intrepid hosts and so it was with a collective sigh that we mused on the government’s just released National Energy Performance Strategy (NEPS). Built on the bones of the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency (2009) and the National Energy Productivity Plan (2015), this latest iteration is serving up a lot of framework and not a lot of new policy commitments. Is it NUP to the NEPS? Your intrepid hosts reckon there’s not a moment to lose on increasing the ambition and building out this framework post haste! Our main paperAnd speaking of ambition! All the targets were hanging out over here as we set our sights on  2035 and had a gander at the Climate Change Authority’s just published 2024 Issues Paper: Targets, Pathways and Progress. So what is the Goldilocks number, CCA? This target is too high (over 75%)! This target is too low (under 65%)! But THESE TARGETS (65-75%) are *just right*. Add a sneak peak into the early thinking on tech needed in different sectoral pathways, a first foray into carbon removals - yet more targets! - AND the promise of economic modelling which will no doubt feature more IAM piñata bashing, and CCA has sung for their supper for Summerupperers to sup!One more thingsLuke’s One More Thing is some listener mail on our recent ep unpacking the National Adaptation Plan issues paper from none other than friend of the pod, CCA CEO Brad Archer! Brad responded to Luke’s cheeky suggestion that the CCA could play a stronger role on adaptation policy - turns out they ARE doing some stuff and they also have plenty to be getting on with already thank-you-very-much!Tennant’s One More Thing is a recent European Commission report on the gap between real-world light vehicle emissions and the current Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). They used data collected by new vehicles themselves while being driven!Frankie’s One More Thing is a tribute to Jeff Robinson, sustainable building advocate and industry legend, who passed away tragically on April 7. Jeff was larger than life and seemingly everywhere all at once, always generous with his time to support the sustainable buildings movement as a mentor and friend to many. A memorial forest is being planted in his honour and a message board for those who would like to contribute. Vale, Jeff.And that’s all from us Summerupperers! Support our Patreon at patreon.com/LetMeSumUp, send your hot tips and suggestions for papers to us at [email protected] and check out our back catalogue at letmesumup.net.