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| Energy | Environment | Development |
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energy
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Cheaper oil prices reduce incentives for investment in alternative energy sources.
Such an approach is short-sighted, however, given our current understanding of
predicted energy needs:
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Today, fossil fuels account for approximately 80% of energy consumption.
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The steep rate of decline in output from conventional oil fields
means that “peak oil” might be reached sooner than anticipated.
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It is widely believed that a price of at least $75 per barrel is needed to sustain
investments in both conventional production as well as research into alternatives.
Implementation of a new energy mix, including energy conservation measures and
the development of alternative energy sources, would support our current quality
of life and reduce inequalities across the globe.
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| KEY ISSUES |
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Optimization of the energy mix and development of new technologies
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Investments to secure alternative energy supplies
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Energy policies, energy savings and technologies to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, taking into consideration the particular challenges
associated with their specificities and implementation time
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The future of fossil fuel and carbon sequestration issues
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Incentive systems, such as a carbon emission pricing, and their
effectiveness in securing sufficient investments in oil and alternative
sources of energy
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environment
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There is increasing political will to address current concerns about the environment,
as evidenced by the widespread adoption of the Kyoto protocol. Previous scepticism about
our role in causing global warming is gradually being replaced with an acknowledgement
that lifestyles need to change. Individuals and governments are seeking guidance on
what changes to institute.
The adoption of a new, forward-looking energy mix offers a concrete way to address
the consequences of climate change. According to the IEA, reductions in fossil fuel
consumption from 80% to 67%, and the use of carbon capture and storage,
are minimum requirements.
It would seem that current measures are unlikely to be enough: the IEA estimates
that even if every policy under consideration for supporting renewable energies and
improving energy efficiency were to be adopted, the share of fossil fuels to
the world’s energy mix would only fall by about 5%.
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| KEY ISSUES |
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The impact of increasing greenhouse gas emissions on the physical
and biological environment and their induced impacts on society
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Technological and economic proposals to mitigate or adapt to climate change
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Industrial response to climate change
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Impact evaluation and elaboration of policy responses to climate change
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Review and assessment of economic instruments and
policy options to mitigate climate change
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development
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Access to more efficient forms of energy could have a decisive impact on health
and safety, and be a crucial factor in alleviating poverty. Better quality energy
has often been shown to have many desirable consequences: it can help reverse the
trend toward migration from rural to urban areas, support education, facilitate
income-generating activities and provide convenient access to clean drinking
water.
The need to act is clear:
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According to the World Energy Council, some 1.6 billion people,
living mainly in rural areas of developing countries, have no access
to electricity or any other modern form of energy.
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17% of the world’s population lacks access to clean drinking water.
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According to World Bank estimates, two million deaths annually
in developing countries can be attributed to indoor pollution
from poor quality cooking fuels.
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Demand for energy is expected to grow strongly as a result of
economic development in emerging markets, especially
China and India.
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| KEY ISSUES |
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The challenge of sustainable development: potential contradictions
between development goals and climate change mitigation
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Development of an adapted energy concept for developing
countries, integrating an appropriate transfer of technologies
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Water, nutrition, health and labour issues
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Industrial proposals for sustainability
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Implementing sustainable development policies
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Organizing sustainable development policies on climate change
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