On Wednesday the 14th of January 2015, the Department for Energy and Climate Change and Prospect organised a public discussion on the energy challenge currently facing London and the UK more widely. The discussion was hosted by journalist and broadcaster Jon Snow who was joined by food critic Jay Rayner, comedian Shappi Khorsandi, Dr Tom Counsell from DECC and Matthew Pencharz, the Mayor of London’s Senior Advisor for Environment and Energy. The evening was characterised by lively debate with live polling, robust questioning and myth busting about how London and the UK can ensure that we continue to meet energy demand while reducing carbon emissions. Jon Snow proved an excellent chair, getting in to the swing of the debate while sporting eye catching, and on message, green socks and matching tie. A short animation by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, laid out the key points for discussion, while also encapsulating the sense of fun that pervaded the event. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Energy, Ed Davey, then kicked the discussion off with a call to arms to embrace the challenge of climate change. “Energy is always controversial,” he said acknowledging the difficulties inherent in this debate. He moved on to describe climate change as a “real and present danger to London and the UK,” especially with regard to flooding and disruption of services. But, the mood of Davey’s message was optimistic. He cited the fact that the UK’s renewable energy capacity has more than doubled in the last four years, and expressed confidence that the 2020 target of increasing renewable electricity to one third of all consumption would be met. While the government is committed to reducing emissions in the transport sector, Davey reminded the audience that 43 per cent of London’s emissions come from workplaces, and 36 per cent from homes, while only 21 per cent are from transport. “We can't leave the green debate to government,” he said. “Companies and the public need to embrace it too. You've all got to play your part in this, in London-—the greatest city on Earth.” The first live poll of the evening asked the audience: “How much of the UK's renewable electricity is generated in London.” An impressive 65 per cent of the audience chose the right answer which was a distinctly less impressive 1.5 per cent.
Read more from the British Energy Challenge partners:
Crystal clean energy efficiency (Siemens)
Beneath our feet: London's energy tunnels (National Grid)
A new way of keeping warm (EDF Energy) A fair wind for London (Dong Energy)
Sustainability was a recurrent theme. In the green room prior to the event, Jon Snow and Jay Rayner were battling to appear suitably green by trying to outdo each other over who had done the least damage to the planet on their way to the event. This debate continued once the panel were assembled on stage. “Cities are a marvellous machine when it comes to possibility of sustainable living,” stated Rayner. Yet the question of how best to reduce individual carbon footprints, and at what point do you draw the line, provoked some lively conversation. "I don't like to eat fruit that's travelled further than me," said the comedian Shappi Khorsandi, who proved skilled at using humour to make salient points. Later, Rayner called for a system of sustainability ratings on food, likening it to the current eco ratings on washing machines. Jon Snow then prodded the panel to reveal their preferred energy choices, before opening the debate up to the floor. The Mayor of London’s Senior Advisor for Environment and Energy, Matthew Pencharz, expressed doubts about the public’s desire to change their energy habits, but if this audience is anything to judge by there is much willingness to experiment.
