October 3, 2008

scientists comment on the newly announced government Department for Energy Security and Climate Change

The new department was created during Gordon Brown’s latest cabinet reshuffle, and will bring together government policy on both energy and climate change, to be led by Ed Miliband.

Lord Rees, President of the Royal Society, said:

“This new department should push action on tackling climate change high on the Government’s agenda and foster coordinated action across all other relevant departments. There are some urgent decisions to be made on energy and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must be at the heart of those decisions. A Department of Energy and Climate Change should be well placed to make the right decisions such as only allowing new coal fired power stations to be built on the understanding that their operating permits will be withdrawn if they do not capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. It is very much in the UK’s interests to seize the opportunity to take a lead in developing ‘clean’ and innovative technologies.

“But climate change in not just an energy related issue. While action on cutting greenhouse gases is essential we also need to adapt to the climate changes that are already inevitable.”

John Loughead, Executive Director of the UK Energy Research Centre, said:

“This is an interesting and potentially positive development that could underpin the energy and climate change policies and structures that are already in place and help drive progress in their implementation. I look forward to learning more details about the strategy, priorities and scope of the new department.”

Prof Jim Skea, Research Director at the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), said:

“New departments always change the balance of power within government. With a single voice, the energy and climate change agenda will be better promoted. But the resolution of tensions between the different strands of energy and climate policy may become more opaque. Difficult issues, such as the contribution of coal-fired power to energy security and its climate change impacts, will be dealt with inside the new department rather than in cabinet.”