Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

ENERGY - THE CHANGING CLIMATE

The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution published its 22nd report (Energy - The Changing Climate) on 16 June 2000, accompanied by a news release.

The aim of the study was to identify the actions required to develop a sustainable strategy for energy provision and use. This included comparing the environmental consequences of different methods of providing energy and examining the scope for reducing energy demand.

Follow this link to download the full text of the report. Copies of the full report priced at £27 can be purchased over the internet (www.clicktso.com), from the Stationery Office, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1 GN or by calling the Parliamentary hotline (0845-7023474).

The Royal Commission also published a summary of the full report which can be viewed or downloaded (1 MB file size). Up to ten free copies of the summary can be obtained by writing to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 5-8 The Sanctuary, London SW1P 3JS, or by telephone (020 7799 8970) or by e-mail to: enquiries@rcep.org.uk. A charge will be made for bulk orders.

The government response to the Twenty-second Report was published in February 2003.

Conduct of the study:

In August 1997, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution announced its review of energy prospects for the 21st century and their environmental implications. The aim of the study was to identify the actions required to develop a sustainable strategy for energy provision and use. This included comparing the environmental consequences of different methods of providing energy and examining the scope for reducing energy demand.

The study was conducted in two stages:
Phase 1 brought together existing material on key topics. Interested organisations and individuals were invited to draw relevant analyses and work in progress to the Commission's attention. Letters inviting the submission of information for phase 1 of the energy study were sent to around 450 organisations and individuals in August 1997. Details of the study were also publicised in a news release.

Some 150 written submissions were received and from these a bibliography of over 600 publications has been assembled. As additional background to the study, nine commissioned papers were prepared by consultants.

A seminar involving around 50 invited participants was held on 2 July 1998, with the objective of helping the Commission define specific issues for detailed investigation in the second phase of the study.

In phase 2 written and oral evidence on particular issues identified from the first phase of the study was gathered. The main theme of phase 2 of the energy study was the implications of considerably reducing, by the middle of the next century, the use of fossil fuels as an energy source in the UK, or even phasing them out completely. Invitations to submit evidence were sent in September 1998 to some 500 organisations and individuals, with evidence being invited on 23 specific issues.

Page last updated 25 February 2003

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