This book provides useful insight into how academics from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, such as science, engineering, technology, social science, policy, design, architecture, built environment, business, and management, have been conducting research into how to realise net zero emissions to address climate change.
This book explores the ways in which countries around the world have pledged to achieve net zero emissions through decarbonisation processes. It presents the highest calibre research and impact activities carried out in the UK, Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. Such activities include conceptualisation, opportunity identification, specific case studies, demonstration of proof of concepts, provision of evidence, education of the general public, and knowledge transfer to companies. Further to this, the chapters also bring to light personal career journeys to net zero by current and future international research leaders. From this book, readers will gain a full understanding of net zero research via multiple disciplinary pathways, be inspired by personal accounts, and will learn key methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative approaches.
The diversity of authors and topics make the book widely applicable to a range of fields, and it will be of great interest to researchers, students, practitioners, and decision makers working towards the goals of net zero and decarbonisation.
Introduction: Current and future leaders of net zero research and their research journeys PART I SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 1 My academic journey to net zero: From an environmental sociologist to the first co-chair of the 2050 Carbon Neutrality Commission 2 The role of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary education in sustainability science: Experiences from my professional journey 3 Net zero: My drive for innovation, enterprise and lifelong learning PART II DESIGN AND INNOVATION 4 Driving sustainability and innovation through design: The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy 5 “I bomme as a bombyll bee dothe”: An (un)random research journey 6 Sustainable by behaviour 7 Sustainable production and consumption by upcycling towards net zero PART III ENERGY SECTOR 8 From geologist to solar energy scientist: Pathways to improving the performance and sustainability of photovoltaics 9 From facing endless unscheduled power outages to clean energy technologies: Research journey to zero-carbon future 10 Harvesting the sun: Paving the way to a net zero carbon future PART IV TRANSPORTATION SECTOR 11 The road to electric vehicles: From architecture to portable battery storage via renewable energy research homes 12 Africa’s transition towards net zero in the transport industry 13 Shifting gears toward net zero: Exploring user acceptance of shared automated vehicles PART V FASHION AND SERVICE SECTORS 14 Integrating sustainable product-service system and service design for net zero in developing economies 15 A sustainable fashion safari 16 Sustainability in the creative economy: Experience in the textiles and fashion industry Conclusion: Progress towards a net zero carbon society
Kyungeun Sung is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Art, Design and Architecture at De Montfort University, UK. Patrick Isherwood is a Lecturer in Solar Energy at the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, Loughborough University, UK. Richie Moalosi is a Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Botswana.
