What the EI does – supporting and recognising energy professionals to solve energy challenges – is the ultimate in public benefit because it’s FOR society. The trouble is, it’s usually not WITH society and there in lies the nub of the problem for energy development. The EI’s Council has been debating how the EI can help bridge this gap in communications and build understanding. By doing so, we reduce fear and uncertainty, we present the evidence – the facts – and let people make better informed decisions about energy issues. These people are likely to be the people that make energy system change happen – they just don’t realise the power in their own hands. In society today, energy development is decided anywhere from the highest order of governments all the way to the remotest local citizens.

With 21,000 energy experts among us – who are all members of society and community – we have the opportunity to help solve this problem. We just need to work out the most effective way to do so.

At the same time as working locally, it’s important that some of our most eminent members succeed on a global stage. For example, EI’s Honorary Fellows including Sir David King, Lord Browne, Lord Stern and Lord Turner are among the authors of the Apollo Programme – which calls for a fraction of public funds from countries to deliver a global research programme to solve the challenges of climate change at scale. The simple ideas are often the best and experts understand the technologies that could make a difference now. Again at a global scale, it’s garnering support from decision-makers who don’t see themselves as part of the energy solution but have the power to be so.

If you have views about how the EI should help society understand energy then do get in touch at lkingham@energyinst.org (or tweet #understandenergy)