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Energy Policy 34 (2006) 1

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Obituary: Gerald Leach

It is with great sadness that we report the passing, inDecember, of Gerald Leach, science-journalist turnedenergy-researcher, committed environmental activistand long-serving member of the Energy Policy editorialboard. Readers of the journal will know Gerry best forhis visionary contribution to research on energy,environment and development. Fewer will know thathe gave up a successful career in science journalism todevote his life to energy research.Gerry Leach was born in Sri Lanka in 1933 and

educated in the UK. He studied natural sciences atCambridge before working as a trainee studio managerfor the BBC. By his mid-thirties he was established asone of the brightest and best science journalists in theUK. He presented a prime-time science magazineprogramme for Anglia Television, co-produced a serieson science research for the BBC, worked as scienceeditor for Penguin books and wrote several books of hisown, including The Biocrats (1970) a highly-regardedaccount of new reproductive technologies. As sciencecorrespondent for the Observer he won praise for theclarity and incisiveness of his arguments. He had an eyefor detail and an instinct for the human dimensions ofscientific stories.Prompted by his long-standing concern for the

environment and by his own critique of the Limits to

Growth report, Leach turned to energy research in the1970s. He believed that Meadows et al. were toopessimistic in their modelling assumptions. But the Clubof Rome report inspired him to think in terms ofsolutions. What could we do to address the resource andenvironmental implications of current developmentpatterns? His response to this challenge was charac-terised by the same insight and vision that drove hisscience journalism.From 1974 he directed the energy research pro-

gramme at the International Institute for Environment

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and Development (IIED). From 1988 until the finalmonths of his life, he worked as a senior research fellowfor the Stockholm Environment Institute.The first major output from his ‘second’ career was a

ground-breaking book on energy conservation pub-lished while he was still at IIED. A Low-Energy Strategy

for the UK (Leach et al., 1979) was a careful andsystematic assessment of the potential for energyconservation in the UK. It was a book ahead of itstime and retains a striking relevance for today’s climate-conscious policy-makers. It also inspired a wholegeneration of young energy researchers to thinkdifferently about the crucial energy issues that hauntedthe end of the twentieth century. Equally influential washis detailed analysis of the woodfuel crisis in Africa andAsia.Those of us who knew Gerry personally never

stopped looking up to him. He towered above most ofus physically and intellectually. He offered us anamused, avuncular gravitas that was deeply comfortingwithout ever being entirely comfortable. He was swift topraise our work when we met his demanding standards.And as quick to chastise us when we failed to live up toour own. We will miss not only his intellectual vision butalso the humanity, compassion and humour he broughtto our lives.Gerry Leach died in London on December 10th, 2004,

after a lengthy illness. He leaves his wife, Penelope, andtheir two children, Melissa and Matthew.

Tim JacksonCentre for Environmental Strategy,

University of Surrey, UK

E-mail address: t.jackson@surrey.ac.uk