Recommendations from the Royal Society Meeting
This document presents the key recommendations arising from a meeting at the Royal Society convened to address the question of 'how to plug the energy gap'.
The meeting, chaired by Lord Oxburgh, considered a report prepared by John Loughhead (executive director, UK Energy Research Centre) based on a multidisciplinary meeting of 150 scientific and economic specialists under the auspices of the Geological Society of London on October 12 and 13.
If we are to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, energy will inevitably become less available, and therefore more expensive than it has been in the recent past. The change will be permanent.
Adapting to this scenario, while maintaining current standards of living, will require fundamental changes in the way the UK produces and uses energy. An integrated approach, addressing energy supply from all potentially available sources (including fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables) combined with reducing energy demand, is needed.
The following were taken by the meeting as given:
The long term nature of the energy problem combined with the sensitive nature of the decisions that need to be taken, transcend both political terms of office and the political parties.
The meeting therefore recommends that a permanent independent cross-party energy commission be established charged with managing the UK's energy and emissions budget.
The commission should have the power to recommend and even set regulatory, planning and fiscal policy to the government of the day.
The commission would also represent the UK in the global energy debate and thus contribute to forming the international regulatory environment.
The meeting, chaired by Lord Oxburgh, considered a report prepared by John Loughhead (executive director, UK Energy Research Centre) based on a multidisciplinary meeting of 150 scientific and economic specialists under the auspices of the Geological Society of London on October 12 and 13.
Background
If we are to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, energy will inevitably become less available, and therefore more expensive than it has been in the recent past. The change will be permanent.
Adapting to this scenario, while maintaining current standards of living, will require fundamental changes in the way the UK produces and uses energy. An integrated approach, addressing energy supply from all potentially available sources (including fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables) combined with reducing energy demand, is needed.
The following were taken by the meeting as given:
- Global warming due to human activity is a scientifically accepted fact, although the consequences of this warming are less well understood.
- The requirement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from our energy consumption.
- The need for leadership to create the regulatory and fiscal frameworks to encourage appropriate behaviour from both suppliers and consumers.
- The current regulatory environment is contradictory, inconsistent and hinders effective energy use.
- The long term nature of the problem transcends not only political terms of office but even whole generations.
- Tradeoffs required in the energy mix are complex, requiring an analytical approach to strategic choices that will have long term trans-generational consequences.
- Societal engagement and education, including boosting take-up of energy-related science and technology courses in universities to address a growing skills gap, is critical to effect the required changes in energy usage.
Recommendation
The long term nature of the energy problem combined with the sensitive nature of the decisions that need to be taken, transcend both political terms of office and the political parties.
The meeting therefore recommends that a permanent independent cross-party energy commission be established charged with managing the UK's energy and emissions budget.
The commission should have the power to recommend and even set regulatory, planning and fiscal policy to the government of the day.
The commission would also represent the UK in the global energy debate and thus contribute to forming the international regulatory environment.