Infrastructure for a Low-carbon Planet

Physical and financial interactions between infrastructures that support a virtuous cycle of low carbon growth are discussed. The infrastructure system that potentially produces low carbon growth has three interactions at its core: i) increased generation of low carbon electricity technically enables greening of buildings, transportation vehicles and industry; ii) decreased demand for fossil fuels reduces the capital requirements for new infrastructure in these sectors; iii) this capital is alternatively invested in greening of the electricity sector, which decreases demands for coal. The cost savings that make the cycle potentially economically viable occur with marine ports and railways sectors, where freed-up capacity is used to support growing global trade in components of green infrastructure. Partial calculations are presented at the global scale.

Bio:
Dr. Kennedy is a professor and chair of the UVic Department of Civil Engineering. He applies principles of Industrial Ecology to the challenges of developing sustainable cities and global infrastructure systems, and studies urban metabolism–the energy and material flows through cities–which underlie greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of cities. He also draws upon his qualifications in Civil Engineering, Economics and Business to advise on policies and planning for sustainable infrastructure.