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.

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.

Section icon

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 resilience planning.

Read more

Section icon

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.

Read more

Section icon

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.

Read more

Section icon

Case studies

Climate Adaptation Plans Review for Scottish Public Bodies

Aether have provided an overview of the state of play of climate adaptation planning for Scottish Public Bodies. The study, commissioned by ClimateXChange (CXC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, aimed to facilitate understanding and learnings on gaps in public body reporting on adaptation, including gaps in information on costs and benefits. 

Risk Assessment and Climate Action Planning with Staffordshire County Council

Aether supported Staffordshire County Council to develop a climate change risk assessment and climate adaptation and mitigation action plans. The aim of the project was to provide a rapid, independent review of the council's work and to provide recommendations to strengthen the actions that the council would ultimately commit to.

Adaptation and Mitigation Planning for Tamworth Borough Council

Aether, in partnership with SE2 and Mesh, delivered a package of work to support Tamworth Borough Council to develop an evidence-based climate change adaptation strategy and mitigation action plan.

Runnymede Borough Council Climate Change Study

Aether, in partnership with Land Use Consultants (LUC), delivered a package of works to support Runnymede Borough Council’s (RBC) review of the 2030 Local Plan with a view to introducing stronger policies to address the impacts of climate change.

Ealing Council Climate Action Plan Multi-Criteria Analysis

Aether developed a multi-criteria analysis of Ealing Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy (CEES) to support the Council with prioritisation and delivery of climate actions to reach their 2030 target of carbon neutrality.

Testimonial

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

“ 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

“ It is always an absolute pleasure working with Aether. I always know what is expected of me. Their work ethic is of a very high standard and projects are always handled in a very professional manner. I have learnt many skills in terms of project management, quality control and workshop training styles from Aether and I hope to carry these principles forward in my own work. I look forward to collaborating with Aether more in the future. ”

Luanne Stevens, Gondwana

“ 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

“ 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

“ From their winning bid to final delivery, Aether's work with North Norfolk District Council was positive and thorough. They brought a clear understanding of the challenges local authorities face regarding carbon emissions and quickly understood the unique nature of the Coastwise project. Communication was effective, and the outcomes combined a depth of research with real-world utility for the council's activities around carbon emissions and mitigation. ”

Alastair Zangs, North Norfolk District Council

Contact us

Get in touch

Call us on +44 1865 259 200, complete the short form below, or go to the Contact page

Aether would like to keep in touch with you via email with news and updates. Please be assured that we'll treat your information with the utmost care and will not share it with other companies for marketing purposes. See our privacy policy.

Newsletter