According to a new report just launched by the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in New York the world faces an important energy choice.
“REmap 2030” says that scaling-up renewable energy to 36 per cent of the world’s total final energy consumption by 2030 is possible and affordable.
I
t also says such a move would keep the world on a trajectory consistent with a carbon dioxide (CO2) level of 450 parts per million (ppm), the widely accepted threshold to limit global temperature increase to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
The report demonstrates that the investment cost for this global expansion of renewable energy is offset by savings of up to $740 billion a year on costs associated with pollution from fossil fuels.
IRENA, which is funded by 170 governments and charged with promoting increasing use of renewable energy, says the central policy question is: What energy sources do we want to invest in?
“Our data shows that renewable energy can help avert catastrophic climate change and save the world money, if all costs are considered,” said Adnan Amin, Director-General of IRENA, presenting the report at a United Nations conference in New York.
“I
n answering this question, REmap 2030 makes a clear case for renewable energy.
“It shows the transition is affordable based on existing technologies, and that the benefits go well beyond the positive climate impact.
“Countries today face a clear choice for a sustainable energy future.”
IRENA says that doubling renewable energy to 36 per cent of global energy consumption will reduce the global demand for oil and gas by approximately 15 per cent and for coal by 26% per cent.
This would cut energy-related pollution and adverse health effects as well as increasing energy security for countries dependent on energy imports.
It would also create a net gain of nearly one million jobs by 2030.
“We can double the renewable energy share in the global energy mix, but we are not on that path now,” Dolf Gielen, Director of IRENA’s Innovation and Technology Centre, said.
To realise the world’s renewable energy potential, all governments need to step up their efforts. We need to act now,” Mr Gielen added.
“IRENA recommends focusing on five key areas: planning realistic but ambitious transition pathways; creating enabling business environments; managing knowledge of technology options and their deployment; ensuring smooth integration of renewable energy into the existing infrastructure; and unleashing innovation.”
“REmap 2030 builds on the analysis of the energy requirements in 26 countries that account for 75 per cent of global total final energy consumption,” Mr Gielen added..
IRENA collaborated with countries and research institutions in the development of the report, which derives its objective from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative.
The report was launched at the SE4ALL Forum at the UN Headquarters.
