Preface to ‘Developing resilient energy systems’

The need for resilience and sustainability in the systems on which Society depends is increasingly recognized as a global priority. It is also clear that to achieve resilience, input from science, technology and innovation will be essential. For this reason, the Royal Society in partnership with the African Academy of Sciences chose Science for a Resilient Future as the theme for the third Commonwealth Science Conference, which was held virtually in February 2021 and brought together 350 scientists (of whom 270 were early career) from 32 Commonwealth nations to discuss three key areas within the overall theme of science for resilience: Developing resilient energy systems; Nurturing resilient ecosystems; and Building resilient societal systems. The present volume, which comprises papers from participants at the conference, focuses primarily on the first theme, although with some discussion of topics relevant to the third. The second theme will be addressed in a separate volume of Philosophical Transactions B. The development of resilient energy systems is essential for the control of climate change and in many parts of the world a necessary adaptation strategy. It is also critical for the development of sustainable and circular modes of production and consumption. As well as wide ranging scientific and technological challenges, including those relating to behavioural and social aspects, there is a complex interplay between science and policy; and both scientific and policy aspects are illustrated by several of the papers in this volume. The issues raised are, of course,