David MacKay: Yes, we can solve the energy crisis

We have an addiction to fossil fuels, and it’s not sustainable. The developed world gets 80% of its energy from fossil fuels – Britain gets 90%. This is unsustainable for three reasons.

First, easily accessible fossil fuels will run out, so we will eventually have to get our energy from elsewhere.

Second, burning fossil fuels is having a measurable, and very probably dangerous, effect on the climate.

Third, even if we don’t care about climate change, a sharp reduction in Britain’s fossil-fuel consumption would seem a wise move if we care about security of supply. Continued rapid use of the North Sea oil and gas reserves will otherwise soon force Britain to depend on imports from untrustworthy foreigners. (I hope you can hear my tongue in my cheek.)