Heat and light: New Statesman Energy Supplement

Energy is not a “normal” political issue. As Henry Kissinger once wrote, “control energy and you control the nations”. And you don’t have to look far to see that a lot of people still feel that way. The recent nationalisation of Bolivia’s gas fields by the country’s president, Evo Morales, is sure to put a damper on the next time he has feijoada with Brazil’s leader, Lula da Silva. Closer to home, the Polish defence minister has just likened a

Contents:

Roger Levett – Obviation not generation
We don’t need more energy – just more imagination,
intelligence . . . and political courage. By Roger Levett

Madeleine Bunting – Crippled by the hypocrisy police
MaDeleine Bunting on the problem of speaking out

Dieter Helm – Energy policy: politics v economics
Politicians should focus on creating long-term markets in carbon reduction and in security, not on picking technological winners, says Dieter helm

Keith Barnham and David Lowry – Strange love
Why did Tony Blair learn to stop worrying and love nuclear power? Keith Barnham and David Lowry on America’s atomic allure

Keith Barnham – Vorsprung durch technik
German experience shows that nuclear is no match for wind and solar power, say Keith Barnham and Massimo Mazzer

Simon Shackley and Jon Gibbins – The case for carbon capture
Whether we like it or not, the world is going to burn a lot of coal and gas. UK industry can lead the way in carbon capture and storage, but government must be prepared to act quickly, too. Simon Shackley and Jon Gibbins report

Martin Bright – “I’m running a 100% review”
Martin Bright talks to Malcolm Wicks, the minister charged with delivering the UK energy review

I walk the line
Francis Maude pees on his compost. David Cameron rides a bike because it is “a lovely thing to do”. But 54 MPs have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent within five years. Some of them told us how

Caspar Henderson – Reason and light
John Houghton tells Caspar Henderson how he convinced the leaders of 30-40 million evangelical Christians in the US to get serious about climate change

Andrew Scott – Small is sustainable
Decentralised energy must be part of Britain’s efforts to combat poverty in developing countries, says Andrew Scott, policy director at Practical Action

Clive Bates – Wasting assets
Clive Bates asks how many investors it takes to change a light bulb

Jean Mahony – Green virgins in outer space
From S