Developing countries like China can develop and grow using renewable energy to avoid the mistakes of old climate-changing energy economies of developed countries.
The debate about climate change is over. Solutions are needed
now. Theenergy [r]evolution is the road map for how to provide
power foreveryone without fuelling climate change.
We don't need to freeze in the dark. We don't need to build
nuclearpower plants. We don't need to cripple economic growth. We
can make asafe and sustainable world energy scenario a reality.
We can have reliable renewable energy, and use energy more
smartly toachieve the cuts in carbon emissions required to prevent
dangerousclimate change. Crucially this can be done while phasing
out damagingand dangerous coal and nuclear energy.
Sven Teske, our energy expert, took a leading role in producing
thereport: "The Energy Revolution scenario comes as the world is
cryingout for a road map for tackling the dilemma of how to provide
the powerwe all need, without fuelling climate change. "Renewable
energies arecompetitive, if government's phase-out subsidies for
fossil and nuclearfuels and introduce the `polluter-pays
principle`. We urge politiciansto ban those subsidies by 2010."
The plan also details how large developing countries like India,
Chinaand Brazil can develop and grow using renewable energy to
avoid themistakes of old climate-changing energy economies of
developedcountries.
The Energy Revolution is not just our vision for the future. It
waswritten with the European
Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and inconjunction with
specialists from the German Space Agency and more than30 scientists
and engineers from universities, institutes and therenewable energy
industry around the world.
Revolution in energy policy
"The stone age did not end for lack of stone, and the oil age
will end long before the world runs out of oil."
Sheikh
Zaki Yamani, former Saudi oil minister.
It is clear that current 'business as usual' approach to energy
supplycannot continue. However the longer we delay making
significant change,the tougher those changes will need to be. In
the next three years,major energy investment will be made in
countries around the world. Wehave the opportunity to say farewell
to old, polluting energy sourcesand to welcome in a new, more
efficient and conflict-free energy future.
Politicians need to grasp this chance with both hands or be the
oneswhose negligence helped ensure dangerous climate change to
beinevitable. You can help ensure a change by voting for
politicians whosupport the Energy [R]evolution.
Evolution in energy use
Governments and industry need to drive a massive change in the
wayenergy is produced. But we as individuals also have to drive
amassive change in the way we use energy.
Using energy smartly can double energy efficiency by 2050. With
a few simple steps,
every one of us can do our bit.
Revolution and evolution are unforgiving forces. Nobody wants to be onthe wrong side of either one. But it's time to choose: all of us areeither part of the [r]evolution, or we're part of the problem. Andunless all of us are part of the solution, all of us have a problem.
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