OPINION

By Katie Edwards

Death of Christian Britain? It’s good that people are turning away from church

We are becoming more informed and thinking more critically about the formal institutions scaffolding our country

August 31, 2023 

‘The CofE is not an institutional version of Miss Haversham – no matter how dusty the pews’

 (Photo: Aerial Essex/Getty)

The Church of England is making headlines for all the wrong reasons this week. Again. This time it’s a “landmark survey” of CofE clergy that has kicked up a spiritual stink.

According to The Times, which commissioned the survey, three quarters of CofE vicars say Britain can no longer be described as a Christian country.

Twelve hundred serving CofE priests were surveyed, which translates to around 6 per cent of the church’s active clergy. Fifty-three per cent of respondents want the CofE to start marrying gay couples (a striking reversal from a similar survey in 2014). Sixty-three per cent want the CofE to drop opposition to pre-marital sex. And 65 per cent want to drop opposition to gay sex.

The church’s front line, it seems, understands what senior clergy do not: religion, like culture and social values, is dynamic. Time cannot stand still and neither can the church. The CofE is not an institutional version of Miss Haversham – no matter how dusty the pews.

Mathew Guest, professor in the sociology of religion at Durham University, says: “The Church of England has been in persistent decline in terms of its membership and regular attendance since reliable records were first available.” And yet many commentators were quick to co-opt the survey’s findings to fit a culture war narrative.

It’s easy, and lazy, to point the finger at those pesky wokeists with their absurd ideas about civil rights and social equality. Yes, public attitudes to sex might be becoming more liberal, but the church has more problems than its old-fashioned and discriminatory attitudes to gender and sexuality. The Church of England’s historic response to child abuse alone is enough to put anyone off.

Many social media commentators, appalled at the survey findings and the idea that attitudes to gay marriage and sexual morals might become more progressive, reacted with outrage. The church shouldn’t pander to the wokeist agenda! The Bible says clearly that homosexuality is wrong! Jesus was a rebel who was prepared to be unpopular – why isn’t the CofE following his lead! Don’t deny or compromise the true Christian teachings for the sake of a non-believing general public! Respectfully, my friends, that’s a load of old rubbish.

Dr Christopher Greenough, a reader in social sciences at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire, specialises in religion and sexualities. He says that no one should be surprised by the survey’s findings. “For Christianity to survive in the contemporary world, it must evolve,” he says.

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According to Greenough, that evolution “is an expansion of the tradition, rather than an undermining of it”. He gives short shrift to those resisting progressive attitudes to same sex relationships: “Those who object to such change want to see Christianity as a relic, rather than a dynamic living faith. LGBTQ+ Christians, amidst constant debates about the acceptance of their genders and sexualities, demonstrate the strong perseverance of faith that is an example to all Christians.”

Dr Meredith Warren, senior lecturer of biblical and religious studies at the University of Sheffield, agrees that religious teachings evolve. There isn’t – and never has been – one “true” set of biblical teachings. “The idea that holding certain views about society or history makes a person more or less Christian is absurd,” she says. “There is no one way to read the Bible; there is no one ‘true’ meaning in that sacred text. We know this because of the myriad conflicting ways it’s been interpreted over the past 2,000 years.”

Warren goes on to to say that “arguing that Christians read the Bible ‘incorrectly’ because they support progressive politics is just another right-wing talking point that doesn’t hold water”.

Those lamenting the death of Christian Britain can dry their tears. The fact that more people in the UK are turning away from the established church is a good thing. It demonstrates a refusal to accept the imposed assumptions and values of a privileged institution.

Most importantly, it suggests that the public are resisting a system that has shown an astonishing lack of accountability and self-awareness. We are becoming more informed and thinking more critically about the formal institutions scaffolding our country.

Katie Edwards is a former academic at the University of Sheffield, specialising in the effect and influence of the Bible on contemporary culture

Almost 3,000 London NHS workers set to strike

Members of the Unite union marched through central London in May in previous strike action


At a glance


More than 2,800 London NHS workers are set to go on strike


It will affect four trusts in east and central London


The workers include nurses, radiographers and porters


It follows a dispute over staffing levels and pay

Published
31 August 2023

Thousands of NHS workers at four London health trusts are set to go on strike next month in a dispute over staffing levels and pay.

More than 2,800 employees who are members of the Unite union, including nurses, will take action at Barts Health NHS Trust, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, East London NHS Foundation Trust and Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Pathologists, porters, cleaners, caterers and those in ancillary roles will also take part in the action, which Unite says will cause "disruption and delays".

NHS England has been approached for comment.

The action follows a series of strikes this year across England by consultants, junior doctors, nurses, ambulance workers and radiographers.

In May, it was announced that about one million NHS workers would receive a 5% pay rise. However, Unite rejected the offer.

Barts Health NHS Trust staff will strike for a total of eight days, on 13 and 14 September and from 16 to 22 September.

Employees from Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust are to take action on 13 and 14 September.

Staff at East London NHS Foundation Trust will strike on 13 September.

Unite says the action follows a dispute over staff shortages, which the union says are "dangerous" and "risk the health of patients and threaten staff welfare".

The action will also be about pay, the union said.

Unite members recently rejected a government pay offer, describing it as a "real terms pay cut".

What is the new NHS pay offer?

Nearly 1 million NHS appointments lost to strikes

Nurses strike in half of England's hospitals

Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said: “NHS employers must stop sweeping the staffing crisis under the carpet.

"Until the fundamental causes of low pay and impossible working conditions are resolved, the problem is only going get worse.”

The union warned of further and more widespread action if its concerns were not resolved.

Summer reads: The path to decolonisation
By Catherine Kyobutungi


Everyone in research should understand their role in making it more equitable, says Catherine Kyobutungi

In May, the International Network of Research Management Societies (Inorms) conference took place in Durban, South Africa. Catherine Kyobutungi, executive director of the African Population and Health Research Center in Nairobi, was one of the experts sharing their work with delegates.

In an article first published in Research Fortnight during the conference, Kyobutungi set out the ways in which global research must change in order to properly decolonise.

Research will truly have been decolonised when communities everywhere, but especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), have the autonomy to determine what questions are important to them and the power to fully use the findings of research done on and for them.

In the interim, the aim should be for health research projects in these places to be based solely on locally determined priorities. From formulation to implementation, they should be led by scientists in that locality and answer questions directed at its real-life problems, with input from policy actors and communities.

Some research funders in the UK and the US have taken steps towards this goal. They have clear policies and guidelines for involving LMIC researchers in grant applications and project delivery, and for the involvement of study communities and policy actors. Their assessment criteria for grant applications examine contributions by all named investigators, budget allocation and pathways to impact.

But awareness about equitable partnerships is not evenly distributed and is not enough on its own. One need not look far to see the same old disrespectful behaviour—from researchers in high-income countries predetermining the contribution of colleagues in LMICs, to projects and budgets being assigned without consultation. Without changed incentives, enforcement mechanisms and an empowering culture in global health research, awareness will not necessarily translate into a change in behaviour.

There are also barriers to equitable research partnerships within LMICs themselves. When governments fail to provide adequate resources for R&D, they leave their researchers at the mercy of exploitative funding and partnership arrangements. When universities fail to be strategic in forging partnerships and in prioritising research in their institutional strategies, they fail to provide an environment in which their own researchers can thrive and be globally competitive.

A role for everyone

In global health research, everyone involved at every stage needs to have a common understanding of the current system, how inequitable it is and their role in making it more equitable.

Equitable partnerships require high-capacity individuals and institutions in LMICs. Funders have a role to play in this and should take a long-term view of individual and institutional capacity strengthening. They can adapt their funding models to the capacity needs of institutions, shifting from support for skills building alone to a more comprehensive model that includes hiring to fill skills gaps and core funding.

In LMICs, research managers and administrators must enforce the parameters of partnerships. They need clear guidelines on what true partnerships are and visible cost structures that their researchers are aware of.

They should also develop standard templates for contracts and agreements that enshrine the principles of equitable partnership. These should include non-negotiables such as adequately providing for indirect costs and minimum level of effort, budget approval procedures during the grant application process, and policies around data ownership and sharing.

The same applies for research managers in high-income countries, but their role is to ensure that their colleagues in research adhere to the principles of equitable partnerships.

Researchers in high-income countries can do things in the short to medium term that have long-term impact. These include ensuring equity in the delivery and benefits of projects and embedding equitable capacity strengthening in project design. This requires a deliberate effort to build capacity across the board: providing fellowships, short courses and opportunities to publish and to attend conferences for researchers in LMICs, and assigning them progressively higher roles in future joint initiatives.

Researchers in wealthy countries have a responsibility to advocate for investment in the institutional infrastructure of their LMIC partners. They also need to understand the barriers colleagues from LMICs face: where events are held, for example, should depend partly on considerations around visas—the place most convenient for some may not be somewhere that will grant entry to everyone who should be present.

At the global level, progress towards equitable research partnerships will be seen in who leads, who speaks and who makes decisions. It will result in global health initiatives designed with impact in mind and leading to more equitable health outcomes. It will also manifest in intentional measures to dismantle the careerism in global health research and practice that lies behind much of the continuing inequity.

Catherine Kyobutungi is presenting her work at the Inorms 2023 conference in Durban this week. Research Professional News is media partner for the event.

Catherine Kyobutungi is executive director of the African Population and Health Research Center in Nairobi.

This article was first published in May 2023 and has been republished here as part of our Summer Reads series.

 

The UK’s “disturbing” attempt to block the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – Palestine Solidarity Campaign

31st August 2023

When Israel’s most extreme right-wing government is ramping up violence against Palestinians and illegally annexing more territory, the UK should be standing on the side of justice rather than undermining the credibility of international institutions”

Ben Jamal, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

By the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is deeply concerned by reports that the UK is seeking to block the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from ruling on the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory.

This position reflects a disturbing pattern of the UK government in shielding Israel from accountability for its violations against Palestinians – including the recent introduction of anti-boycott legislation seeking to prohibit public bodies from taking ethical decisions in response to Israel’s breaches of international law.

The UK has put itself at odds with the international community by submitting an opinion to the ICJ that it should not be investigating Israel’s occupation of Palestine, in opposition to a UN general assembly resolution passed last December requesting the ICJ to produce an advisory ruling on this topic.

For decades, Palestinians have endured the harsh realities of occupation, displacement, and the violation of their fundamental rights by successive Israeli governments – amounting to the crime of apartheid. The ICJ, as an internationally recognised judicial body, has the mandate to interpret and apply international law. Its rulings should be respected and upheld by all states, including the UK.

By attempting to obstruct the ICJ’s hearing, the UK sends a dangerous message that Israel is above international law, and that Palestinians have been abandoned in their search for justice.

Ben Jamal, PSC Director, said:

“At a time when Israel’s most extreme right-wing government is ramping up violence against Palestinians and illegally annexing more territory, the UK should be standing on the side of justice rather than undermining the credibility of international institutions and the foundation of a rules-based international order.

“Palestinians like all oppressed people should have access to accountability and justice to address violations of their rights including through crucial international bodies like the ICJ.”

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• You can support the work of the Palestine Solidarity campaign here; and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

UK

Judge bars unlawful protests against Esso oil pipeline project

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A High Court judge has barred ‘unlawful protests’ against an Esso oil pipeline project between Southampton and London (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

By Brian Farmer, PA

Thu 31 Aug 2023 at 07:50

A High Court judge has barred “unlawful protests” against an Esso oil pipeline project between Southampton and London.

Mr Justice Julian Knowles on Thursday granted a “permanent injunction” against a named protester, Scott Breen, and “persons unknown” after an application by lawyers representing Esso.

The judge, who had considered evidence at a High Court hearing in London, outlined his reasoning in a written ruling and referred to a “campaign of protest”.

Another judge had previously granted an interim injunction.

Mr Justice Knowles heard that the pipeline would stretch more than 60 miles (more than 100km) between Hampshire and a west London terminal in Hounslow when complete.

Esso said there had been 15 “incidents” which had “affected” the construction of the pipeline between December 2021 and August 2022.

Timothy Morshead KC, who led Esso’s legal team, had argued that there was a “continuing need” to “restrain unlawful protests”.

Mr Morshead said “activities carried out by some protesters” had gone “far beyond” what “might reasonably be regarded as lawful and peaceful” protest – and given rise “to serious health and safety concerns”.

He told the judge that the “risk of repetition” was “obvious”.

A permanent injunction was granted (Ian West/PA)

Mr Justice Knowles said he had taken into account protesters’ human rights to free speech and peaceful assembly and was “satisfied” that Esso was entitled to the injunction it sought.

“The campaign of protest which the pipeline has attracted is plainly intended to impede (Esso’s) ability to construct the pipeline and to harm it economically,” he said.

“Having considered the issues and the evidence, the balancing exercise I have performed comes down very clearly in (Esso’s) favour given the importance of the works and the threat posed by the protesters to disrupt and cause damage.”

The judge said neither Mr Breen nor any other protester had appeared at the hearing.

He heard that Esso operated a network of oil pipelines from its refinery in Fawley, near Southampton, to fuel terminals across England.

UK

Laughing gas ban might be a mistake, health experts tell Government

What is nitrous oxide? Health experts warn laughing gas ban could harm users

Nitrous oxide canisters / PA

By Lowenna Waters
William Mata
2 days ago

Nitrous oxide users could stop seeking help, health experts have warned, if the substance is banned — as is proposed.

Fifteen neurologists and related health experts have reportedly signed a letter to say that possession of the drug should not be criminalised — and sent it to the Government.

Ministers banned the sale back in March of nitrous oxide capsules unless it was used for a so-called “legitimate reason” — after Rishi Sunak pushed the plan forward.

The Government has pushed for the ban out of cited concerns for antisocial behaviour but also after complications from use led to hospital admissions. Its usage can be linked to nerve damage, paralysis, or death.

According to the BBC, experts said that “the ban could worsen the stigma” around users if it is criminalised. Nitrous oxide can be used for pain relief during dental treatment or childbirth but can also be used by chefs for whipping cream, or freezing and chilling food.

Dr Alastair Noyce, author of the letter, wrote: “People may delay coming to hospital at a time when their symptoms are treatable.

“The net effect of that may be that they develop long-term harm damages.”

Laughing gas has frequently been seen on festival sites / Yui Mok / PA Wire

After cannabis, laughing gas is the most commonly used drug among 16- to 24-year-olds in England.

Current legislation bans the knowing or reckless supply of nitrous oxide for inhalation but there have been calls for a ban on all direct consumer sales as part of a tightening of the law on the commonly used drug.

In a 2019-20 Crime Survey for England and Wales, almost nine per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds said they’d taken nitrous oxide in the past year, a rise of 6.1 per cent from 2012-13, the Guardian reported.

Here’s everything you need to know about nitrous oxide.

A festival-goer holding a handful of spent nitrous oxide canisters in a campsite at the Reading Festival / PA

What is nitrous oxide?

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as nos, laughing gas, or nitrous, is a colourless, non-flammable gas that, at room temperature, has a slightly sweet smell and taste.

It has significant medical uses, specifically in dentistry and surgery, for its anesthetic and pain-reducing qualities.

Its colloquial name, laughing gas, is due to the euphoric effects it has upon inhaling.

The drug was discovered by chemist Joseph Priestley in 1772, and has subsequently been the subject of myriad experiments and cartoons, and became a useful tool in medical settings to treat severe pain.

It also inactivates the vitamin B12, which can lead to neurological problems, as, “B12 is crucial in the production of myelin, which is the fatty sheath around nerves in your body,” explains Dr Trevor Pickersgill, a consultant neurologist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

When B12 is inactivated by nitrous oxide, the myelin is no longer kept in good repair, which can cause “spinal-cord damage, which can be irreversible if untreated,” Pickersgill said.

A festival-goer inhales a balloon of nitrous oxide / PA

What are the effects of nitrous oxide and is it safe?

Inhaling nitrous oxide can be fatal if you don’t get enough oxygen, which is known as hypoxia, explains the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

According to the foundation, its short-term side-effects include:
euphoria
numbness of the body
sedation
giddiness
uncontrolled laughter
unco-ordinated movements
blurred vision
confusion
dizziness and / or light-headedness
sweating
feeling unusually tired or weak
sudden death

Prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide can cause:
memory loss
vitamin B12 depletion (long-term depletion causes brain and nerve damage)
ringing or buzzing in the ears
incontinence
numbness in the hands or feet
limb spasms
potential birth defects (if consumed during pregnancy)
weakened immune system
disruption to reproductive systems
depression
psychological dependence
psychosis

Nitrous oxide canisters litter the ground at the Glastonbury Festival / PA

Is nitrous oxide illegal?

At present, no, but it is expected that will soon change in the coming weeks. Current legislation bans the knowing or reckless supply of nitrous oxide for inhalation but campaigners say it is a “grey area” and the law needs to be toughened up.

How long does nitrous oxide stay in your system?

Talk To Frank says the length of effects and how long the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size, and what other drugs you may have also taken.

A spokesman said: “Nitrous oxide is often taken in combination with other drugs. So its effects can be unpredictable, as it depends on what other drugs are being taken with it.

“It is a short-acting drug which can lead people to frequently re-dose and end up using more than they intended.”

Why are ministers planning to ban the sale of nitrous oxide?

Last year, doctors and police issued a warning over a rise in cases of nerve damage linked to the use of nitrous oxide.

Experts have revealed that, as the use of the drug has increased, so too have cases of spinal-cord and nerve damage, including paralysis.

Speaking to the Guardian last year, Dr Nikos Evangelou, an academic neurologist at the University of Nottingham, said: “There is no doubt that we have seen an increase of cases, as this was almost unknown last year and now [we] see cases weekly.”

Nitrous oxide canisters can be legally obtained and, according to research, notifications of acute poisoning increased from three in 2011 to 32 in 2020.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cited the problem in a speech at new year on antisocial behaviour. He said that “nitrous oxide in children’s playgrounds… makes life miserable for so many”.

 

A ‘sure’ thing: more proof US nukes are coming to Britain – CND

31st August 2023CND, 

“The deployment of the new B61-12 to Europe undermines any prospects for global peace and ensures Britain will be a target in a nuclear conflict.”Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary

By the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)

CND is renewing calls for the UK to refuse to allow the US to site its nuclear weapons in Britain. Fresh budget documents reveal that plans to store the new B61-12 at Lakenheath airbase are gathering pace.

The Federation of American Scientists said that US Air Force budget documents dated March 2023 “strongly imply” that Washington is in the process of re-establishing its nuclear weapons presence in Britain for the first time in fifteen years. It follows reports last year that Lakenheath airbase in Suffolk was added to a list of US-operated airbases in Europe to undergo multi-million dollar upgrades allowing for the storage of the new B61-12 guided nuclear bomb.

The latest documents, published as part of the USAF 2024 budgetary justification package, express the need for a “surety dormitory”. As FAS notes, “surety” is a term used by US government departments to “refer to the capability to keep nuclear weapons safe, secure, and under positive control.”

The 144-bunk dormitory, the documents say, is needed, as with “the influx of airmen due to the arrival of the potential Surety mission and the bed down of the two F-35 squadrons there is a significant deficiency in the amount of unaccompanied housing available for E4s and below at Royal Air Force Lakenheath”. Construction is expected to last from June 2024 to February 2026.

Since learning of Lakenheath’s addition to the list of sites to be upgraded last year, CND has held three national demonstrations at the base to highlight local and national opposition to the move. On Saturday 23 September, local groups will hold events across the country to highlight the danger US nuclear weapons will bring to Britain as a whole, if they are allowed back by the UK government.

CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said:

“It’s increasingly clear that Lakenheath is once again a vital cog in Washington’s overseas nuclear machine – despite refusals from the British government to acknowledge this reality. The deployment of the new B61-12 to Europe undermines any prospects for global peace and ensures Britain will be a target in a nuclear conflict between the US/NATO and Russia. It’s beyond irresponsible that the UK government is allowing this deployment. CND calls on Rishi Sunak to refuse to host the B61-12.”

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• This article was originally published by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) on August 29th.
• You can follow CND on Facebook, Instagram and twitter.

Could Artificial Intelligence deliver a green transition?

Marion Dumas

LSE
August 31st, 2023

Can AI boost current efforts and innovation to move towards a clean energy model? This is the question addressed by recent research aiming to further our understanding of AI’s role in the transition to low-carbon technologies. Marion Dumas, one of the authors of this research, discusses some of the key – and sometimes surprising – findings.

“AI for the planet” is an oft-heard phrase in clean tech and AI circles alike. The idea that AI can catalyse breakthroughs to tackle climate change is an alluring prospect, especially as the world is now waking up, with some anxiety, to how deeply and broadly AI may transform economic sectors and social life. Is it just hype and greenwashing, or a fundamental development?

Our research, carried out with Eugenie Dugoua (LSE Department of Geography) and Pia Andres of the Oxford Martin School, seeks to address this question. The study focuses on the impact of AI and ICT on low-carbon innovation because innovation is so central to the transition to a net-zero economy. Much like updating an old house with modern fixtures, every core segment of our economy – electricity, transport, heating, and manufacturing – needs a renovation. They all require new technologies that can radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, turning an old, polluting system into an eco-friendly one.

Help or hindrance?

AI is a bit like a Swiss Army Knife. Economists call it a “General Purpose Technology” (GPT), a tool so versatile it can transform virtually any sector of the economy. Historical examples of GPTs include electricity and the internet.

Since a GPT can be applied to anything, it can be applied as well to increase the productivity of… fossil-fuel based technologies! Indeed, several research programmes are currently developing AI-enabled robots to increase exploration of fossil fuel reserves, or to enable easier monitoring and maintenance of offshore installations. Hence, a priori, there is no reason why AI should particularly help the planet – it can harm it as well by boosting dirty technologies.

However, there is good news. Using economic theory and an extensive database of patents, our findings show that AI, so far, seems to help more than hurt the transition to a low-carbon economy.

AI, so far, seems to help more than hurt the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The ideas behind the theory are simple but go a long way in illuminating what is going on. The first idea is that clean technologies such as renewable energy of electric vehicles need to catch up (in terms of productivity and affordability) with dirty technologies. In the early phases, when they are still immature, the private sector’s incentives to improve these technologies tend to be weak, as the rewards are too far into the future. This is a barrier to the transition.

Thankfully, this dynamic can change if clean technology can take advantage of advances in other fast-improving technologies such as AI. Indeed, the second idea in the theory is that new technology’s success depends a lot on it taking advantage of advances in other technologies. This is what economists call technological spillovers. By creating new opportunities for clean technologies, spillovers from AI boost the incentives for companies to work on clean technologies. This effect is especially strong if inventors working on cleaner technologies are better able to use AI than those working on their dirtier counterparts.

Mapping flows of innovation

We then turned to a global database of patents (PATSTAT) and extract all patents relating to both clean and dirty transport and electricity technologies, as well as all patents relating to AI and ICT. Think of patents like a family tree, with citations tracing the lineage of ideas. If Patent A cites Patent B, it’s as if Patent B is the parent, having contributed to or directly influenced the creation of Patent A. This is one way in which researchers map the flow of knowledge.

Using this data, we estimated the likelihood that a clean energy patent cites – that is, builds on – an AI or ICT patent. We found a very consistent pattern: clean energy patents draw on AI and ICT patents 2 to 3 times more on average than do dirty patents. Moreover, when clean energy patents incorporate AI, they themselves subsequently generate more citations, that is more new ideas, and to a much greater extent than dirty patents.


The application of AI to clean energy is driven in large part by companies with extensive experience in AI and who seem to find applications in clean energy more appealing than applications in dirty energy.

We considered several reasons why clean technologies have such an advantage. One reason could be intrinsic to the technologies. For example, a lot of data and information processing is needed to smooth intermittent energy from renewables. Another reason could be that companies working on clean tech have more access to knowledge about AI, perhaps because of co-location. A third reason could be that older technologies, particularly those based on fossil fuels, may not be as adept at incorporating fresh ideas and technologies. Their maturity can often equate to a loss of adaptability. In the last part of the study, we linked the patents to the companies that filed them and find evidence that all three reasons are at play. The application of AI to clean energy is driven in large part by companies with extensive experience in AI and who seem to find applications in clean energy more appealing than applications in dirty energy.
An opportunity to grasp

What does this all mean for the transition? It is important to remind ourselves that innovation is central to the net-zero transition. Many commentators claim that the technical solutions exist, and that we are only missing political will. It is true that renewables have become cost-competitive in some markets and that affordable electric vehicles are within reach. However, we are still missing many key elements of a zero-carbon economy: ultra-high-density batteries, affordable hydrogen, smart grid solutions that can smooth intermittent renewables, advanced clean fuels for aviation etc… Overall, the International Energy Agency estimates that 50 per cent of the technologies we need to achieve net-zero by 2050 are still in prototype phase. This is why accelerating the pace of innovation in low-carbon technologies is very important.

This study shows that AI and ICT have been enabling low-carbon innovation. Thus, the idea that AI can enable a faster transition is not wishful thinking – evidence from the recent past supports this vision. As we move forward, there’s a significant opportunity to boost clean innovation if we can deliberately steer AI and ICT towards the greener technologies of the future.

This post draws on research by Pia Andres, Eugenie Dugoua and Marion Dumas contained in the working paper “Directed technological change and general purpose technologies: can AI accelerate clean energy innovation?” (September 2022) published by the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of LSE British Politics and Policy, nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

About the author

Marion Dumas is an Assistant Professorial Research Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute. Her research focuses on green innovation, the institutional processes underpinning decarbonisation and the interaction between reducing inequality and fighting climate change.