Onzo

When an energy company that wants to build a new coal fired power station, or a new generation of nuclear power stations, or a wind farm off a beautiful coast line, tells you there’s going to be an ‘energy gap’ – a point in the future when demand outstrips supply – you may be suspicious.

But when Prof John Beddington, the UK government’s Chief Scientist, predicts that growing world population will cause a “perfect storm” of food, energy and water shortages by 2030, as he has just done, you have to listen.  And when he adds that climate change will exacerbate the problem in unpredictable ways, it’s more than a little worrying.  2030 is not that far off.

So what’s to be done?

Governments find it very hard to influence individual behaviour.  Consider their list: smoking, drinking, wearing condoms, wearing seatbelts, wearing safety helmets, exercising regularly, not over-eating, voting, breastfeeding.  There is a limit to what any government can do and to some extent its arsenal is limited by public opinion.  Governments have to get (re-)elected and this often prevents them from doing what’s in the long-term best interests of society.  In a democracy making people do what those in authority believe is the right thing can only go so far.  Weak governments, late in their term, are even less well placed to bring about change.

There will always be a role for government, but there are many other ways to bring about behaviour change.  Campaigning groups, charities and businesses can all help.  In our case, Onzo is focused on one important area: how much energy each person uses, and our products and services give them the information they need to understand how to cut their consumption.   Sometime soon, governments are going to realize that it’s easier, cheaper, and better for society to get individuals to take action to reduce energy usage than it is to build and operate new power stations or impose limits on the number of children anyone can have.