10.03.09: UKERC Research Director Receives Japan Ambassador’s Commendation

Professor Jim Skea, Research Director at the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), has received a formal commendation from the Japanese Ambassador for contributing to the deepening mutual understanding between Japan and the UK, specifically for the success of the Japan-UK Joint Research Project on moving towards a low-carbon society.

UKERC has been working with DEFRA, the Ministry of Environment Japan and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) to help organise workshops focused on driving forward the UK-Japan Low Carbon Society project, which at key points fed into the Gleneagles Dialogue under Japan's chairmanship of G8.

Joint scenario and modelling work conducted by UKERC, NIES and researchers from other developed and developing countries was published in special issue of the journal "Climate Policy" in mid-2008.

Commenting on the commendation, the Japanese Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Shin Ebihara, talked of Professor Skea's central role in the Japan-UK Low Carbon Societies Project:  "Professor Skea was at the centre of discussions which provided participants and a wider circle of policy makers with clearer views on how to achieve a low carbon society, the importance of which was reiterated by Prime Minister Gordon Brown…

"As Japan and the UK continue to strengthen their global partnership, Professor Skea's contribution to the Project set a prominent example of bilateral cooperation in one of the most important issues on the global agenda." 

Jim Skea commented: "It's an honour to receive this commendation from the Japanese Ambassador.  The relationship forged between the UK and Japan via the high level low-carbon society project has proved extremely valuable.  We are very pleased that the outcomes of the project were reflected in the conclusions of the Hokkaido G8 summit."