Dr Victor Azubike and Richard Delahunty, met with Members of Parliament in Westminster on Tuesday, 4 November to present their latest insights on whether energy transition co-exist with energy security.
As part of Evidence Week in Parliament, CIRUU Energy and Taylor & Francis made policy recommendations and highlighted the need to review current energy policies considering the latest available evidence. Evidence Week is a unique annual meeting that brings together the public, parliamentarians and researchers from across the UK to discuss how evidence is used and reviewed in Parliament.
Dr Victor Azubike and Richard Delahunty presented their findings to members of Parliament, including, Claire Young MP, Clive Jones MP, George Freeman MP, Graham Leadbitter MP, Harpreet Uppal MP and Lizzi Collinge MP, equipping them with vital information to inform the decisions they make on future policies on energy.
“Energy is the bedrock of modern society; it cuts across all sectors and contributes to the development of economies around the world. It is therefore vital that policy in this area is based on research evidence,” said Dr Azubike. “It was very encouraging to speak with a range of parliamentarians who are keen to engage with energy policy questions.”
“It is important for policymakers to realise that energy security and the transition to cleaner energy sources are mutually reinforcing, rather than competing priorities,” added Dr Azubike. “My analysis has found that comprehensive pragmatic policy strategies are required to effectively pursue both goals simultaneously. Although energy transition and net-zero initiatives are often the focus, energy security is critical for maintaining power”.
Evidence Week, now in its eighth year, is run by the campaigning charity Sense about Science, in partnership with the Quadram Institute, the UK Statistics Authority, communities and research institutions from across the UK. During the week, MPs meet with leading scientists to get the latest insights on pressing issues covering topics as varied as Artificial Intelligence, health, sports gambling and prison management. It is an opportunity for the public, parliamentarians and researchers to come together to share knowledge and insights.
It also empowers legislators to engage with evidence and equips them with the critical tools to handle uncertainty, identify bias and scrutinise underlying assumptions.
Tracey Brown, Director of Sense about Science, said:
“MPs must engage with an astounding breadth of subjects and sources any given week. This is why Evidence Week in Parliament offers two days of rapid-fire briefings on cutting-edge tools and insights with some of the UK’s leading research groups. We’re delighted that MPs have the chance to hear directly from researchers about their new insights on energy transition and energy security to inform policies tackling global energy challenges.”
Evidence Week in Parliament 2025 is organised by Sense about Science, in partnership with the Quadram Institute and the UK Statistics Authority. Running from 3-7 November, Evidence Week opens with an in-person reverse committee hearing where constituents ask MPs about the evidence behind policy issues that matter to them. This is followed by a week of rapid-fire policy briefings from world-class researchers for MPs and peers in Westminster, as well as training from national experts for parliamentary staff on how to understand data and research, and scrutinise reports and evidence presented to them. Seehttps://senseaboutscience.org/evidence-week/ for the full programme.
Sense about Science is an independent charity that promotes the public interest in sound science and evidence. Founded in 2002, Sense about Science works with decision-makers, world-leading researchers and community groups to raise the standard of evidence in public life. It focuses on socially or scientifically difficult issues where evidence is neglected, conflicting or misunderstood. Visit https://senseaboutscience.org/ or email [email protected]
A full list of partnering research organisations can be found here: https://senseaboutscience.org/evidence-week/policy-briefings/.
Read our follow-up Policy Brief: “Energy Transition & Security — Insights from Westminster.”
See Dr Victor’s policy commentary video: Can energy transition co-exist with energy security?
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