As part of its commitment to sustainable development, SEPA has hosted a debate on climate change and future energy policy at the BA Festival of Science.

Climate change represents a major issue for society over the next few decades. Research indicates that the next century will see rising temperatures and increased amounts of rainfall in Scotland, especially in the west, which may lead to a greater risk of flooding.

In order to mitigate climate change, Scotland needs to join the international effort to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. In order to do this, our future energy policies must change.

Today’s debate over Scotland’s future energy policy included discussions about both the supply of and demand for energy.

The audience discussed with speakers a range of issues including:

• the need for reliable, non-imported energy supplies
  
• the need to increase the proportion of energy provided by renewable sources
  
• the importance of maintaining a variety of energy sources
  
• the lifestyle changes we must all make to reduce energy consumption and to increase energy efficiency, in the home, vehicles and industry
  
  

SEPA Chairman Ken Collins, who chaired the session, said

“SEPA has an important role to play in the debate about climate change. Today’s seminar was the first of many opportunities we will take to stimulate constructive debate about all the issues surrounding it, including future energy policy. Constructive debate on this, involving all the key players, is vital because it affects the future for all of us. SEPA’s Board itself is likely to be considering some of these issues over the next few months.”

ENDS