Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

TEXT OF THE LETTER INVITING EVIDENCE FOR PHASE 2 OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION'S STUDY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

18 September 1998

ROYAL COMMISSION STUDY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT:INVITATION TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE

In August 1997 the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution announced its intention to review energy prospects for the 21st century and their environmental implications. The aim of this study is to identify the actions required in the years immediately ahead in order to develop a sustainable strategy for energy provision and use. The Royal Commission is grateful to all those who responded subsequently to its invitation to draw relevant analyses and work in progress to its attention. On the basis of preparatory work, including analysis of this material and information contained in reports by consultants which it commissioned, the Royal Commission has defined specific issues on which it is going to focus.

There is now an international commitment, based on a broad consensus among scientists, that action must be taken to avoid dangerous modification to the world's climate by limiting carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. This, and other environmental impacts of energy systems, have created strong pressures for radical changes in the way energy is obtained and used. Most commentators agree there needs to be a considerable reduction in the use of fossil fuels as an energy source in the UK, and some have suggested their use should be phased out by the middle of the next century.

The Royal Commission believes that, to provide the necessary perspective for future energy policy, the implications of changes on that scale need to be elucidated and assessed. It is therefore seeking views on the issues annexed to this letter. Responses to this invitation should be sent to Ms Cathy Garretty at the Royal Commission's address above (please note the recent change of address) by Monday 30th November 1998. If you have any queries please contact either Cathy Garretty (Tel. 0171 273 6639) or me (Tel. 0171 273 6649).

It will be particularly helpful to the Commission's Secretariat in analysing responses if the numbers given in the Annex can be used to indicate which of the issues each section of your response is addressing. We do not expect that most of those responding will be in a position to address all the issues. If there are significant issues not covered in the Annex which you believe the Commission ought to consider, please feel free to draw these to the Commission's attention.

It would be appreciated if, where possible, in addition to hard copy submissions could also be sent in electronic format, copied to 3.5" floppy disc for PC's, and saved as either WordPerfect 6.1 (or a lower version), Word 6 (or lower version) or ASC11 text.

Unless indicated otherwise when evidence is submitted, it will be assumed that the organisation or individual submitting it does not have any objection to its disclosure to other parties should the Commission so decide.

A list of the organisations and individuals to which this invitation is being sent will be posted on the Commission's Web site (see the energy section at http://www.rcep.org.uk/energy.html) before the end of September 1998.

Mrs Enid M Barron
Assistant Secretary to the Commission

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