Climate change and energy policy: The importance of sustainability arguments

It is the stated policy of the UK government to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 60% by 2050. This policy, which goes far beyond commitments under the Kyoto agreement, was originally advocated by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, of which the author was a member. Its acceptance was seen by many as a surprising development, possibly reflecting strength of the underlying case. The target was developed by a three-legged argument which reflects the three components of sustainability: Environmental constraints: limits on emissions to avoid risk of major climate change; Social equity: equal per-capita allocation of emissions; Techno-economic: the feasibility and cost of reduction on this scale. Assessment of techno-economic feasibility required a new evaluation of the role of different primary energy sources in the UK, including the contribution of biomass and recognising the importance of heat in the national energy balance. It also showed clearly the decisions to be made over both carbon dioxide sequestration and the future of nuclear power.