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Imperial and LSE bring environmental economics research into focus at workshop

Researchers from around the world gathered at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ on 8–9 June for the 9th Imperial/LSE Workshop in Environmental Economics. Organised by the Economics and Public Policy Department at Imperial Business School, the Department of Geography and Environment at LSE and the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, the workshop created space for in-depth discussion of new research on climate risk, the green transition, pollution, adaptation and household energy demand.

The event was also sponsored by the Hitachi-Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions. In that context, the workshop offered a valuable opportunity to bring leading environmental economists into conversation on some of the policy and economic questions shaping the transition to a more sustainable future.

The two-day programme brought together established and early-career scholars working across environmental, resource and energy economics. Through full paper presentations and short talks, participants shared new evidence on the economic dimensions of climate change and explored how research can help inform responses to pressing environmental challenges.

A central theme of the workshop was the long-run nature of climate risk and the complexity of the transition to low-carbon systems. Presentations examined topics including the spatial consequences of climate tipping points, long-run cost-benefit rules, and the role of critical minerals and geopolitics in shaping the green transition. Other discussions considered how economies and governments respond to disasters, highlighting the ways climate risk, resilience and public policy intersect. These questions speak directly to the kind of systems-level challenges that sit at the heart of work being advanced across Imperial, including through its collaboration with Hitachi.

The workshop also explored how policy design influences outcomes in practice. Sessions on green industrial policy, corporate net zero targets, permitting and litigation risk, and firms’ responses to disruption all pointed to the importance of implementation as well as ambition. Together, these discussions emphasised the value of careful empirical research in understanding where climate and energy policies are working, where constraints remain, and what this means for the pace of decarbonisation. A further set of presentations focused on the effects of environmental change and policy on people’s lives. Research on pollution looked at the links between electric vehicle adoption, air quality and infant health, as well as the long-run costs of chronic exposure to pollution. Sessions on adaptation and household energy behaviour examined topics such as weather-related investment decisions, crop insurance, electricity demand response, heat-pump grants and solar panel adoption.

A keynote lecture by Prof Robert Metcalfe of Columbia University was a highlight of the event focussing on results of his collaboration with Octopus Energy to draw out unique insights on energy consumption behaviour and economic incentives.  

By convening researchers at different career stages and from a wide range of institutions, the workshop reinforced the value of collaboration in advancing climate and environmental research. It also underlined the importance of environmental economics in informing responses to decarbonisation, climate impacts and the design of effective policy. Set alongside the wider work of the Hitachi-Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions, the event demonstrated how partnerships between academia and industry can help create the evidence, ideas and networks needed to support a more sustainable future.

Hitachi R&D Leaders Visit Imperial for a Showcase of Research Excellence

The Hitachi - Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions hosted senior leaders from Hitachi’s Research & Development Group at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ on 25 February 2026, welcoming them for a curated programme demonstrating Imperial’s world-leading research strengths, global networks and interdisciplinary capabilities.

The visit highlighted the strong partnership focused around the Hitachi-Imperial Centre’s mission to advance decarbonisation, climate repair and evidence-based policy. The discussion summarised the successes to date, including pioneering work on carbon removal, biodiversity intelligence and decarbonisation pathways.

Professor Hugh Brady, President of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, welcomed the delegation and outlined the university’s global mission, highlighting the enormous value that strategic partners such as Hitachi bring to tackling world problems collaboratively. This was followed by Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research & Enterprise) and Co-Director of the Hitachi–Imperial Centre, who further discussed Imperial’s Science for Humanity Strategy to deliver large-scale, mission-led research, empower talent, and build transformational international partnerships that accelerate scientific and societal impact at scale.

The day also primarily offered Hitachi’s R&D leadership a clear picture of Imperial’s wider scientific ecosystem, policy influence and the culture of innovation that supports the partnership. A central feature of the visit was a session led by the convening Co-Directors of the School of Convergence Science: Professors Anthony Bull, Alessandra Russo, Jonathan Eastwood, and Dr Mirabelle Muûls. Through examples spanning AI living labs, advanced robotics, satellite instrumentation, energy systems modelling and ecosystem analytics, the team illustrated how Imperial integrates disciplines to create system-wide solutions with global relevance. The group discussed the importance of having common goals and putting the right milestones and infrastructure in place to support convergence science.

The group later visited Imperial’s Data Observatory, where large-scale immersive visualisations bring research to life. Demonstrations included robotics for real-world sensing, tracking knowledge flows using patent citations, and interactive insights into the future of work powered by artificial intelligence.

Imperial academics and researchers joined senior Hitachi leaders including Dr Shigetoshi Sameshima and Dr Asako Koike for the visit, which concluded with reflections on the strength of the long-standing relationship between the two organisations.

Hitachi-Imperial Researcher Workshop: Building Bridges for Innovation

On 25 November 2025, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and Hitachi came together at Hitachi’s London offices for a dynamic workshop designed to spark collaboration and deepen mutual understanding. The event brought researchers from both organisations into one room to share ideas, explore synergies, and lay the groundwork for future partnerships.

The day began with a warm welcome and informal networking over coffee, setting the tone for an open and interactive session. Participants then took part in an icebreaker activity that encouraged conversation and helped build connections across disciplines. A highlight of the morning was a presentation from Hitachi, offering insights into the company’s business and research priorities. This session provided valuable context for identifying areas where academic expertise and industry innovation could intersect.

Researchers from Imperial introduced their work through a creative “pair and share” format, allowing everyone to gain a deeper appreciation of the breadth and depth of research taking place. These exchanges revealed exciting overlaps and sparked discussions about the collaborative projects.

The workshop concluded with a forward-looking conversation on next steps: how to stay connected, share resources, and turn ideas into impactful initiatives. Over lunch, participants continued networking, reinforcing the spirit of partnership that defined the day.

This event is part of a broader vision to strengthen collaboration through the Hitachi-Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions. Current projects include Regional Strategic Energy Planning for a Just and Resilient Energy Transition, which explores how energy systems can be designed to achieve net zero while ensuring fairness and resilience across regions. Alongside this, PhD projects within the Centre address critical challenges such as carbon accounting, direct air capture technologies, and nature-based climate solutions, equipping the next generation of researchers to lead the transition to a zero-pollution world.