The 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held under the presidency of the UK government in Glasgow, from 1st to 12th November 2021.

Durham Energy Institute and its partners will be using the run-up to COP26 to highlight the importance of decarbonising heat to meet the goals of the conference.

We will also be exhibiting at COP26 itself in the Green Zone on November 11^th – the official day focused on Cities, Regions and Built Environment - as part of the COP26 Universities network activities.

Come along to our COP26 stand to chat to us about decarbonising heat and the solutions we are developing to address this!

The decarboning heat challenge

If we are to reduce carbon emissions by 2050 we need to decarbonise heating and cooling, which is one of the most difficult areas to decarbonise.

The energy used to heat the spaces we live and work in is one of the highest contributors to our individual carbon footprints. Globally, heat accounts for nearly half of all energy consumption and 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

In the UK, Heating is one of the largest contributors to the UK’s carbon emissions, representing 1/3 of all emissions. 

Nearly 13 per cent of greenhouse gases in the UK result specifically from home heating using fossil fuels, a similar level to emissions from cars.

In the UK we currently import more than half of the gas we use in UK. This raises concerns about climate change and future energy security. The UK is dependent on imported gas.

In order to become self-sufficient, energy secure and meet our carbon goals we need to invest in the decarbonising heat systems.