Energy and Sustainability: Policy, Politics and Practice

Abstract

There is no universally accepted definition of what ‘Sustainable Energy’ means but in general the concept is to achieve a supply of energy that is sustainable over long periods of time with manageable or no negative environmental impacts. Unfortunately, many of these phrases are vague and open to interpretation. For example, when referring to long periods of time, do we mean decades, centuries or even longer? To be sustainable does an energy source have to be renewable and renewable forever? If the latter then no such source exists even the sun has consumed 50% of its hydrogen fuel. So, presumably what constitutes renewable energy depends upon the time frame over which the energy is to be used and the rate of use? What do we mean by manageable environmental impacts? Does this mean we are prepared to accept some negative impacts—whatever ‘negative’ means?