Energy is vital to our national well-being and should not be allowed to become a political football. The debate must encompass all aspects of energy, not just electricity.

The confrontational nature of the public debate, particularly between the various technologies, is false, it inhibits decision-making, and results in a reduction in the options.

These issues affect everyone and the Royal Society of Edinburgh is seeking to engage as wide a range of society as possible to debate the issues and to help better inform the decisions that need to be taken urgently. The widest possible consensus should be sought.

A series of events around Scotland has provided the opportunity for input by all interest groups and the public, and this will be followed by a final conference in Edinburgh to report on and distil the outcomes of the country-wide events.