Sir David King warns against "conspiracy of hope" ahead of RSC nuclear debate

Ahead of receiving the Royal Society of Chemistry's Lord Lewis Prize tomorrow, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK government, Professor Sir David King, has told the RSC that urgent action is needed now to ensure a safe, secure, low carbon supply of energy for the UK.

He said: "With the need for major investments long overdue the UK is in danger of missing the opportunity to create a sustainable low carbon economy. The Government must develop a robust plan. We can't rely on a conspiracy of hope that it will happen.

"Nuclear power is a long term undertaking and needs a long term strategy, which the UK has conspicuously lacked for many decades. We should use the looming electricity supply problems and the carbon reduction imperative to drive a coherent long term low carbon energy strategy, with a nuclear role, that is both well-defined and driven by a competent empowered organisation.

"Ten years ago the Government published The Energy White Paper which set us on a course to reduce emissions by 60% by 2050. The science has moved on and the need for action to mitigate climate change and ensure security of supply has strengthened but the movement towards nuclear new build has been slowed due to political inertia."

The RSC has awarded Sir David its biennial Lord Lewis Prize for distinctive and distinguished chemical or scientific achievements, together with significant contributions to the development of science policy.

Before being presented with his award, he will give the RSC Lord Lewis Prize Lecture, under the heading 'Renewable energy and nuclear power for the UK'. 

With the Energy and Climate Change Committee publishing their report on Nuclear New Build today, Sir David adds: "The Government needs to find a way of making new build energy infrastructure attractive to investors; it is in the national interest to make it a reality and will directly benefit the UK, create sustainable low carbon energy and skilled jobs. This will require commitment and funding. The cost of infrastructure is affordable. Inaction is not.

"The Government needs to create a Large-Scale-Energy Commissioning Authority. This would drive through new energy sources, develop the low carbon supply chain and work to ensure we have the brightest and best people working in the UK."

In the 56 years since Calder Hall power station began generation, nuclear power has rarely been far from political focus or the public eye, and the issue of climate change and desire for sustainable energy production have only intensified discussion. 

The recent work by the Government's ad hoc Nuclear Research and Development Advisory Board and announcements of intention by Hitachi and EDF create a timely moment for the Royal Society of Chemistry to bring together experts and interested individuals with perspectives from policy, industry and academia.

Also speaking is Professor Francis Livens, Director of Research at the Dalton Nuclear Institute, University of Manchester. As a member of the ad-hoc Nuclear Research and Development Advisory Board, Professor Livens will be able to provide a unique view on the future of civil nuclear R&D, as well as what we can do to achieve it.

A prestigious panel of invited guests, including members of both houses of parliament, will attend the prize-giving, lecture and reception, which takes place at the RSC's Chemistry Centre, at Burlington House, London, on the evening of 5 March 2013.

Notes for editors:

• Professor Sir David King is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, Director of Research in Physical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, Director of the Collegio Carlo Alberto, Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and a senior scientific adviser to UBS.
• Sir David has published over 500 papers on his research in chemical physics and on science and policy. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1991, Honorary Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences in 1998 and Honorary Foreign Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2002. 
• He was knighted in 2003 for his work in science, and received the award of "Officier dans l'ordre national de la Légion d'Honneur" from the French President in 2009 for his work on climate change and on negotiating the international agreement to build the world's largest technology project, the ITER fusion reactor.
• Professor Francis Livens is Professor of Radiochemistry and Research Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute in the University of Manchester. He received his PhD in plutonium geochemistry from the University of Glasgow in 1985 and joined the University of Manchester in 1991 where, in 1999, he was the founding Director of the Centre for Radiochemistry Research (CRR). He has worked in radionuclide geochemistry, aqueous speciation and spectroscopy, and radioactive waste disposal, with a particular interest in the actinide elements. He provides advice to UK Government on nuclear and related matters, including membership of the advisory Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.