Products and Services > Policies and Wider Impacts

Policies and Wider Impacts

Supporting environmental policies, measures and action

Businesses and local and national governments are responding to challenges to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants in the atmosphere. Aether’s policy review and analysis can provide customers with the evidence base for further action. This can be through qualitative and quantitative analysis, including potential co-benefits. We can support with the preparation of submissions for international reporting of policies and measures. This service is closely linked to Aether’s inventory and projections support services.

For more infromation contact James Sammut

Supporting decision making

Actions, policies and measures that focus on reducing greenhouse gases and air pollutants can be at the business, organisational, national, city or local level. They can be short term and/or long term. They may focus on a specific sector (such as policies to encourage a modal shift to cycling and public transport) or be more cross-cutting (such as a national energy efficiency plan).

Aether supports customers with high quality analysis on the impacts of possible actions and their wider co-benefits or possible dis-benefits. Aether provides tailored services ranging from review/assessment of data and systems through innovative training and capacity building solutions to complete hassle free data gathering, compilation and reporting services. Analysis of the GHG and wider impacts of mitigation actions can support decision making processes and business cases for action.

Policy analysis and reporting

Air pollutant and greenhouse gas projections provide a baseline and possible future scenarios. Aether’s expertise in data gathering, analysis and forecasting helps our customers to establish achievable targets for improved environmental performance.

We are increasingly working with local authorities in the UK on modelling pathways to net zero targets set by climate emergency declarations. These pathways can be used to support decision making on climate action and building back better from Covid-19.

Co-benefits of policies and measures

Integrating effective environmental action into economic, social and sustainable development requires more than the simple presentation of actions, their costs and environmental benefits. It requires a broader consideration of the wider impacts (co-benefits and adverse impacts) of the action with respect to core economic, social and sustainable development goals.

Net zero

In efforts to mitigate climate change, governments and organisations are setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to "net zero" or carbon neutral. We work with local authorities to develop their routes to net zero through baselining their carbon footprint, reviewing local and national policies, stakeholder engagement, and then modelling pathways to net zero using our Carbon Scenario Model.

Case studies

Developing a comprehensive approach to nitrogen in the UK

Aether, alongside project partners the Stockholm Environment Institute, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and Plantlife International, undertook a study for WWF of the nitrogen cycles and pathways in the UK and reviewed existing strategies and policies that could affect the balance of nitrogen in the environment.

Support to the European Environment Agency

Aether has been providing support to the European Environment Agency through their European Topic Centres since 2014, focussing on air pollution, industrial pollution and climate change mitigation.

EU Forest Reference Levels

Aether provided support to the European Commission and the LULUCF Expert Group in the technical assessment of EU Member State's National Forestry Accounting Plans.

Lewisham Route to Neutral

Support to Lewisham Council to define the route to carbon neutral for the Borough

Antigua and Barbuda Biennial Update Report (BUR)

Aether has been supporting Antigua and Barbuda on their first Biennial Update Report (BUR) by writing the Mitigation chapter. This work will enable Antigua and Barbuda to report transparently on initiatives addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. Also the climate action database will enable the Department of Environment to take stock of climate related initiatives across the country, including the flow of climate finance, and relate this to national strategies and targets.

South Africa Climate Action Tracking and Evaluation System

Aether worked with Gondwana Environmental Solutions to support South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) to develop an innovative online platform for gathering, analysing and reporting climate mitigation and adaptation actions. The system acts as a central registry for climate actions alongside associated climate challenges, targets, support needed, wider impacts and indicators.

Electric vehicles from life cycle and circular economy perspectives

A report written for the European Environment Agency that used an extensive literature review to analyse and synthesis the environmental impacts of electric vehicles though life cycle and circular economy perspectives.

Montenegro Climate Change Action MRV System

In cooperation with UNDP through the GEF funded project “Development of Montenegro’s Second BUR”, Aether has been supporting Montenegro in developing a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system for its climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.

Irish Environmental Protection Agency

Aether supports the Irish Environmental Protection Agency with the preparation and submission of Ireland's National Emissions Inventory of Greenhouse Gases under the EU Monitoring Mechanism and Air Quality Pollutants under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive.

Luxembourg Climate Action: Stakeholder engagement and reporting Portal

Aether developed an innovative online platform, or Portal, for gathering, analysing and reporting Luxembourg’s climate policies and measures. The Portal acts as a central point for stakeholder engagement and keeps a live master list of national climate actions, with associated impact and cost analysis.

Emission Inventory Support for Environment Agency of Iceland

Aether is supporting the Environment Agency of Iceland in the compilation of its greenhouse gas and air quality emissions inventories as well as projections and policies and measures. We are helping to ensure that Iceland’s inventory is robust and of high quality.

Oxford Sustainability Index

Aether was appointed to develop a Sustainability Index for Oxford, comparing the city’s performance with others.

North East Scotland sustainable energy action plan

Aether led the development of the North East Scotland Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) for Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Angus and Moray.

Testimonials

Don't just take our word for it...

“We have worked with Aether since 2019 to baseline, and subsequently update, our council and borough greenhouse gas inventories. It is a pleasure working with Aether’s professional, responsive, collaborative and helpful team. ”

Merton Council

“I must congratulate each of you for your professional and tireless efforts. Let me point out that this has been the 'neatest' in-country review expert review team I have coordinated, and it has been a real pleasure.”

UNFCCC Secretariat

“Both the face-to-face training and the online version have been of high quality, with dynamic methods and a practical orientation that have allowed students to reach a solid knowledge base. The products have been delivered within the stipulated deadlines with an excellent quality and the team has always shown willingness to make adjustments according to the requirements of CONAF. We are very satisfied with the work. ”

Javier Cano Martín, Professional Unit for Climate Change and Environmental Services, CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), Chile

“Chris was excellent to work with and always very pro active in making suggestions, taking work forward and applying his considerable technical knowledge in effective ways.”

Robert Vaughan, Defra Air Quality Team

“Professional team and very collaborative communication. Effective result in terms of suggestions for improvement in the quality of the inventory and proposals on how to streamline specific topics.”

Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research

“Aether is a great partner for work in the area of European Air Emissions. The team was committed, reliable, well organised and had a deep technical understanding and motivated other partners with their good spirit.”

Umweltbundesamt: Environment Agency Austria

“The Aether team were a joy to work with and I would recommend the consultancy - the service provided throughout the process was exceptional. Where there were problems, they provided solutions. The team were working to very short time scales but were able to deliver a high quality piece of work within the specified time frame.”

Sefton Council - for the Merseyside Atmospheric Emissions Inventory

“Aether was a great asset in involving/engaging with Member States experts on highly technical subjects regarding GHG reporting. Very clear communication of issues and results.”

Andreas Pilzecker, DG CLIMA

“Saint Lucia embraces the professional approach with which this project was undertaken by Aether, particularly their ability to develop mentorship relations with local government experts. This provides a basis for ensuring that the pool of local experts remain engaged and recognized over successive processes.”

Annette Rattigan-Leo, Chief Sustainable Development and Environment Officer

“We have been collaborating with Aether for several years, and our projects have greatly benefited from it. Aether staff are very knowledgeable, professional and flexible - and last but not least, very friendly and a pleasure to work with.”

Umhverfisstofnun, Environment Agency of Iceland

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