United Nations has recently reported that extreme weather has caused deaths of 2 million people and $4.3 trillion in economic damage over the past half a century.
The second edition of the annual ‘Be the Change’ panel discussion, an initiative by Asian Voice in association with Royal Air Force, focussed on problems posed by Climate Change and possible solutions. It was held at the Peers’ Dining Room in the House of Lords on Friday 26 May 2023 and was attended by more than 150 guests. The agenda of the initiative was to encourage communities to play their part in minimising the adverse effects of climate crises and help provide a sustainable future for the generations to come.
Lord Raj Loomba CBE, who hosted the event on behalf of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar said, “Climate Change threatens humanity. It is our own children and grandchildren who will live with its consequences. It is always the poorest of the poor who will suffer the most from its impact, and in some cases entire communities and nations are threatened with extinction. For many, particularly the most disadvantaged, climate change is already threatening livelihoods and security through droughts and floods. I understand that the Royal Air Force is committed to playing its part in achieving Net Zero. They also make us proud by providing support and aid during humanitarian crises. We are glad to have the RAF on our side to defend our country and the world against this threat, which many believe is the greatest of all. I have always believed that we can achieve more by working together.
“For over 25 years, The Loomba Foundation has supported disadvantaged widows and their children in various parts of the world, and we are aware that without our various partners we could never bring about change for the marginalised. We must do the same for climate change. We must do what we can to make our own actions and lifestyle sustainable, and no one organisation or country can do this singlehandedly. We must build alliances and collaborations to deal with this challenge. This is why I’m so pleased that Asian Voice under the visionary leadership of CB Patel has gone to great lengths to host this event on climate change.”
Squadron Leader Amir Khan welcomed the audience on behalf of the RAF and Warrant Officer Caroline Cooper gave a short presentation on the RAF’s mission to combat the climate crisis.
Alpesh Patel OBE moderated the panel discussion. The panellists shared their perspectives on the challenges and possible solutions to combat the looming climate crisis.
Resonating with the mission and vision of Lord Loomba’s Foundation, Pushpanath Krishnamurthy reiterated that women are the hardest hit by climate change impact. He also emphasised that climate change does not impact everyone uniformly. And even if it does, it depends upon how strong or weak you are both physically and financially. He said, “People who have the least are in the darkest paradox of our time while dealing with the problem of livelihood. But the most extraordinary thing for me is that, despite being beaten, broken, and battered, they are reimagining the future with hope. And that is what triggers me.”
Dr Chamu Kuppuswamy said, “The problem is the lack of urgency. We don't have time on our side to deal with climate emergencies. Many councils in the UK have climate emergency declarations, but then what after that? What we are dealing with is the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, the issues are much bigger.”
Offering his solution Syed Ahmed OBE, who has been working on community energy said, “Very often we see the collective power of community groups at work. Be it raising finance for local development or build places of worship or recreation centres, community groups are powerful. So, we need to unlock the potential of local communities to contribute to reducing carbon emissions and provide opportunities for younger people to train in new technologies.”
The vote of thanks was presented by ABPL’s Chairman CB Patel. The RAF presented the panellists with a bag of sustainable and climate-friendly souvenirs.
Rupanjana Dutta, Managing Editor, Asian Voice was the host for the evening.
RAF integrating sustainability into all decision-making at all levels
(Extract from Warrant Officer Caroline Cooper’s presentation at the event)
Defence is responsible for half of central Government estate emissions and the RAF is responsible for approximately 40% of Defence Carbon emissions. Since last year thirty Air Forces have now signed the Global Air Forces Climate Change Collaboration.
The RAF completed a pioneering Guinness World Record with the first flight of a fully synthetically fuelled aircraft, opening the way to the potential for zero carbon aviation and reducing our dependence on limited fossil fuel and SAF supplies. Called “Project Martin,” the short microlight flight was a collaboration with an industry partner.
In Spring 2022, the RAF successfully flew a four-metre drone with synthetic aviation fuel, enhancing their ground-breaking work.
On 16 November 2022, following a year-long technical partnership between the RAF, Defence Equipment & Support, Industry Partners, an RAF Voyager flew from RAF Brize Norton on 100% SAF. This was the first time any military in-service wide body aircraft had flown on completely 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Using leftover fuel, the Voyager conducted an air-to-air refuelling of a Typhoon and C-130 Hercules. The fuel was re-manufactured in accordance with aviation fuel specifications.
On 17 April 2023, a second RAF Voyager was powered by a SAF blend, provided in collaboration with International Airlines Group and BP. This provided a further air-to-air refuelling sortie over the North Sea supplying close to 50% SAF blend to other RAF aircraft. This flight marked the launch of a new, updated aviation sector Decarbonisation Roadmap by UK industry coalition Sustainable Aviation, that reaffirms the sector’s commitment to reach Net Zero carbon by 2050.
The UK’s proactive approach to incorporate SAF into routine use is also helping to guide other NATO and global Air Forces that are yet to clear aircraft up to 50% SAF blend. This is important to ensure interoperability between nations and simplify the logistics chain so that multiple specifications are not required in the future to meet different national standards.
This is a key element of operational resilience and support advantage, so the data and experiences gathered during these trials will be shared with other military Air Forces. SAF will become part of the global aviation sector fuel mix, and thus, its use will become standard wherever Air Forces operate globally.
The RAF is also planning to investigate sustainable aviation opportunities with our helicopters and uncrewed air systems, and where emerging new civil sustainable aviation technologies, such as electric/hydrogen Vertical Take-Off and Landing and airships might play a part in the medium to longer term.
We have several novel solar power projects underway, most notably at RAF Wittering. We are investigating the potential for geothermal and wind technology that does not interfere with our radars, lightweight solar panels for building roofs, and the longer-term potential of transitioning to biogas and hydrogen as UK civil networks decarbonise our national gas networks.
There are numerous projects exploiting synthetic training using XR, AR and VR to deliver an immersive training experience. With an increase of virtual training to complement face-to-face elements, the movement of personnel across the UK has been significantly reduced.
Ultimately, we are now integrating sustainability into all our decision-making at all levels, from the main operating bases to the front line. Discussions are starting to understand the impact of, and opportunities from, a growing military use of the space domain.
We need to embed climate change and sustainability considerations in all MoD processes from Strategic Defence Reviews, through Defence and Command planning, to new systems requirement setting, new building designs, whole life costings, and decision-making to engrain climate change and sustainability into Defence’s DNA. This is starting to happen, but we have some years to go until it is truly business as usual, but only applied where climate change and sustainability equals or enhances military delivery and operational advantage and effect.
