30th anniversary

From 1979 to 2009 – the Centre for Sustainable Energy has turned 30

Has anything changed in the 30 years since the Centre for Sustainable Energy was born?

Actually, there are signs of hope: new commitments to radical cuts in UK carbon emissions; a major push on renewable energy; an enhanced role for communities in the shift to a sustainable energy.

Simon Roberts, CSE’s Chief Executive said: “We will use this year to share our 30 years’ experience of inventive and influential initiatives, showing how the best of our work can stimulate and support the sweeping transformation needed to tackle climate change and end fuel poverty.”

And looking back on the moment a generation ago when four people got together in a pub to develop the idea which became CSE, he added: “Without their initial spark, CSE would not now be in the position where we can genuinely help to turn these national commitments into practical, deliverable initiatives and to support communities and local authorities to realise their ambitions for a low carbon future.”

And to mark our 30th anniversary, CSE hosted two special events in Bristol and London, and published a book. Details below. 

30th anniversary conference (Bristol)

Shaping a (local) sustainable energy future: the next steps
Watershed Media Centre  |  30 June 2009  |  click here to read more

30th anniversary policy workshop (London)

Exploring ‘energy justice’: prospects for fairness in UK climate policy
Coin Street Community Centre, Southwark  |  Monday 30 November 2009  |   click here to read more

Our impact

Taking a moment to assess our impact over the last 30 years – here we examine how many people we have helped and how much that means in terms of carbon reduction  |  click here to read more

Switched on since 1979

Also to mark our 30th anniversary we produced a small book: Switched on since 1979. Copies are available as a PDF by clicking here.

Founding Faith

Read Hugh Barton's personal reflections on the the politics, the philosophy and the people surrounding CSE's foundation in 1979 here.

Five years ago ...

To mark our 25th anniversary in 2004 we published ‘Shaping a Sustainable Energy Future’, detailing seven lessons we had learned and (as we said at the time) still struggle to apply.
Download it here.

From the archieve: early days at the Bristol Energy Centre, which eventually became CSE