Date:
29 June 2009
Meeting future energy needs while tackling climate change is of the utmost
importance but the debate on how to achieve this often considers single
technologies in isolation. This document is the report of a two-day discussion
meeting Towards a low carbon future that was held at the Royal Society
on 17 - 18 November 2008. The meeting reviewed the current and potential
technological options and considers how they can contribute to an integrated
energy strategy for the future.
The key conclusion arising from the meeting was that there is no single best
solution in moving towards a low carbon future: an integrated approach making
best use of all available technologies is required. A number of areas were
suggested that require considerable research to be undertaken now if we are to
be able to make full future use of technologies such as renewables, bio-energy
and fusion. Nontechnological developments were also seen as essential in
realising the potential technological developments.
The report describes views expressed at the meeting. Presentations and
summaries from each of the topics covered during the meeting are given below.
The report, presentations and summaries do not necessarily represent the views
of the Royal Society or those of all the meeting speakers and participants.