Why did I start this website?
I wished to create a website that gathers policies, strategies, current practices and innovations in the development of a low carbon economy together in one place. I have spent much time on the internet finding and researching essential information that is relevant to the lowering of carbon in our world society. In my searches I encountered much positive reactions to policies and plans, but very little (if any) comparative evidence for the forecast energy savings of the innovation or the process involved in comparison to current methods (where they exist).
I am aware that innovation in the low carbon economy involves a degree of ‘spin’, which is mainly provided by the manufacturing companies who detail their energy-saving advantages. I regularly ask the questions, “how do we know if the claims made by manufacturers are correct? Is the creation of a portfolio of ‘green’ jobs a profitable area for the country as a whole, or does the profitability find its way into the pockets of the few. ” Are homeowners and businesses fully aware of the potential change in behaviour required by them in the coming years?
In short, this blog site was created to determine your reactions to the policies and strategies planned or currently employed to achieve a future low carbon economy. It is also my intention from time to time to focus discussion on interesting innovations in the field of low carbon/energy efficiency. I have designed a related website, www.lowcarbonoptions.net, which provides the background information on low carbon options for society and the world as a whole.
I also will propose a novel methods of governmental support for the current and future innovations, i.e. from the origination of the idea through to the final commercial implementation, with the resultant increase in employment in the “green’ sector. In order to achieve this, I am currently designing a further website (www.help2invent.net) to provide a mock-up of a governmental site aimed at supporting the innovations from their conception to market place. The site, which will be linked to both lowcarbonoptions websites (.org – this blog, and .net – the background information site) is scheduled to be live in mid-summer 2011.
Professional Experience
January 2011 – Present
Team Leader: Representing LTS International for a feasibility study for an integrated watershed management program for the Kagera River Basin, involving Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. This progam is part of the Nile Equitorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program.
Present
Development of a digital platform for governments to provide support for the development of low carbon innovations. The website www.help2invent.net is currently under construction.
June – December 2010
Team Leader: The development of an Environmental and Natural Resource Management Action Plan (ENRMAP) for the Upper Shire River Basin, Malawi. This project was carried out in conjunction with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Washington and MCA-Malawi, LTS International, in partnership with The International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN), the Centre for Development Management in Malawi (CDM) and Water Resource Associates (WRA Ltd, UK).
February – March 2010
Short Term Expert: Production of three short animations on behalf of the FAO to visualise the surface water temperature changes that have taken place in Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria since the mid 1980s.
December 2009-present
Freelance: Author of websites related to policies, strategies, practices and innovations for lowering carbon emissions: www.lowcarbonoptions.net
November 2009-January 2010
Short Term Expert: Undertaking a study on behalf of the FAO to determine the effects of climate change on the fish communities, composition and productivity in Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria.
October-December 2009
Short Term Expert: EuropeAid/125153/D/SER/Multi African Transboundary River Basin Support Programme – case of the basin of the Orange-Senqu River in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. To prepare a framework for the development of recommendations to support the management of water environmental quality for the Orange-Senqu River System, and to develop water resource management objectives to support this process.
August 2009
Appointed Director – Water Resource Associates, Ltd
December 2008-present
Freelance: Proposal management for international consultancies; Co-author of website related to climate change: www.climatedata.info
January-December 2008
Associate at Scott Wilson Ltd. Responsible for business development in the field of international water management
August 2007
Founder member of EMA Ltd. (www.ema.com.mk) Established in 2007, EMA (Environmental Management Associates) is an environmental management and consulting company located in Skopje, Macedonia.
March-September 2007
Team Leader representing Arcadis Euroconsult (NL) for the EU project “Technical Assistance for Water Quality management of the Arda River”.
January 2006-November 2007
Team Leader representing a consortium of Euroconsult Mott MacDonald (NL), Mott MacDonald (UK) and Eptisa International (Spain) and GEING (Macedonia) for the project for ‘Improvement of the management of transboundary water resources in the Vardar/Axios river basin’
June-November 2005
Team Leader representing a consortium of Project Management Ltd (Ireland) and Sogreah Consultants (France) for the EU project “Integrated Management of the Waters of Nestos/Mesta River Basin”.
April 2002-June 2005
Programme Coordinator: United Nations (UNOPS) for the GEF/UNDP Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Programme
September 1998-January 2002
Project Manager: Halcrow Group Ltd. Responsible for delivery for a range of environmental projects relating to environmental quality objectives, freshwater quality status, economic instruments for nutrient reduction, environmental protection and strategic environmental investments.
September 1991-July 1998
Project Manager: WRc plc. Responsible for delivery for a range of landfill management and leachate treatment projects funded by the UK government, in line with the development of the EU landfill Directive. Involved in the improvements to EU legislation for detergents, including assessment of the EU Code of Conduct for the Detergent Agency (AISE). Novel method development to detect aerial contaminants and their effect on front-line species.
1989-1991
Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Essex: Anaerobic treatment of industrial and municipal waste containing high levels of sulphate. (funded by the Dept. of Environment)
1987-1989
Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oklahoma: In-situ bioremediation: Mechanism for microbial movement in subsurface materials (funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency)
The full details of my professional experience can be viewed at: www.patrickreynolds.co.uk
