University showcases key role of ‘carbonomics’ in shaping net zero future

Thought leaders, academics, policymakers and business innovators have been learning from the University of Derby about the key role ‘carbonomics’ will play in helping the UK achieve its net zero ambitions.

Carbonomics, which is the emerging discipline of connecting carbon and economics, has the potential to transform business, shape society and accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero.

At a recent event at the House of Lords, supported by partners Intercontinental Exchange and McDonald’s UK & Ireland, the university shared its vision for the future of carbonomics and its newly established Institute of Carbonomics, which is based at its brand new £75 million Cavendish Building in Derby city centre.

The university plans to collaborate with policymakers nationally and internationally to develop policies and practices that industry and businesses can adopt to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor and chief executive of the University of Derby, said: “Carbonomics is more than an emerging academic field; it is a vital framework for how industries must evolve and innovate to succeed in low-carbon economies.

“Achieving net zero demands a united effort, and the University of Derby’s Institute of Carbonomics embodies the shared ambition to make the UK a world leader in this field.”

During the reception event at the House of Lords, attendees learned more about how the university will deliver this vision through its Institute of Carbonomics.

The institute, which is the first of its kind in the UK, will accelerate innovation in carbon economics, transform supply chains and drive measurable, real-world solutions that deliver carbon reduction at scale.

Professor Mitchell added: “Universities are more than places of learning. They are engines of innovation, partners in progress, and therefore leaders in the transition to a sustainable economy.

“The Institute of Carbonomics will bring together academics, entrepreneurs, engineers, and policymakers to co-create solutions that are practical, scalable, and impactful.”

The Institute of Carbonomics was created through a collaboration between the University of Derby, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and McDonald’s UK & Ireland – global partners who recognise that tackling climate change requires collaboration, innovation and action at scale.

Gordon Bennett, managing director of utility markets and global head of environmental markets at Intercontinental Exchange, said: “The creation of the Institute of Carbonomics reflects a shared commitment with the University of Derby to solve complex, real-world challenges through collaboration and application.

“As a global financial market operator, Intercontinental Exchange aggregates diverse perspectives to create price signals and risk tools that guide decision-making across the economy.

“That same principle is at the heart of Derby’s identity as an applied university, where cross-disciplinary collaboration turns knowledge into action.

“Located in the UK’s manufacturing heartland, Derby is embedded in the real economy – where decarbonisation must be delivered not just in theory, but in practice.

“This partnership connects the real economy with the financial markets.”

Nadia Hartley, head of sustainability and indirect sourcing at McDonald’s UK & Ireland, said: “This is a strategic partnership with the University of Derby to drive change through research, policy and deliver real-world impact.

“McDonald’s believes business must be at the heart of change to reduce emissions and build the systems that make sustainable progress possible.

“We build this through assurances to farmers, suppliers and long-term investors.

“Only through innovation, collaboration, and scale can we deliver actionable insights for us and the food and hospitality sector.”