DECC confirms MacKay as new low-carbon advisor

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) today confirmed that it has appointed David Mackay, Professor in the Department of Physics at Cambridge University, as the department's chief scientific advisor.

Mackay has risen to prominence in the past year following the publication of his bestselling book, Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air, a widely praised assessment of the measures required to de-carbonise the economy.

The book, which is freely available online, courted controversy by applying mathematical calculations to energy-saving strategies and noting that measures such as turning off phone chargers equate to little more than "eco-gestures" that save negligible amounts of energy.

It also highlighted the full scale of the shift towards low-carbon energy supplies that will be required, and has been used in some quarters to justify plans for large-scale projects such as desert-based solar farms and huge expansions in wind and nuclear energy.

As chief scientific advisor to DECC, Mackay will be responsible for ensuring that the department's policies and operations are underpinned by sound scientific and engineering advice.

"Climate change and secure energy are two of the most urgent issues facing the UK and the global community," said Professor Mackay. "The solutions must be rooted firmly in the science and I look forward to advising the government on how it can help deliver these important goals."

His appointment was welcomed by energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband, who said that Mackay would help make climate science more accessible to both policy makers and the wider population.

"David MacKay is known for making science accessible and helping to explain clearly the urgency and the challenges of moving to a low-carbon economy," he said. "I want him to bring all these qualities to the job of advising DECC on how we can meet Britain's carbon targets and energy security needs."