Dr Andy Yuille explores the social mandate for reducing energy demand to help meet climate targets
5 June 2026
Dr Andy Yuille, Research Fellow in the Climate Citizens group at the Tyndall Centre, University of Manchester, presented the results of a two-year citizens' panel to the Oxford Energy Network on May 26.
The panel, a unique combination of citizen deliberation and energy systems modelling, suggests that there is a social mandate for reducing energy demand in the UK by around 37% between 2025 and 2050. The panel-led scenario would achieve 82% of emissions reductions required to meet net zero, with most residual emissions absorbed by trees and soils. This would require social and technological change in areas such as what we eat, what we buy, how we get around and how we heat our homes. Panel members’ support for these changes is conditional on government leadership and action to enable more people to make lower energy and lower emissions choices.
The seminar is available to watch at the following link:
Further information is available at:
Dr Yuille highlighted people’s willingness to make changes to their everyday lives, providing government puts in place the conditions to enable them to do so.