A recent report by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and Greenpeace International - Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook - demonstrates that “…aggressive investment in renewable power generation and energy efficiency could create an annual US$360 billion industry, providing half of the world's electricity, slashing over US$18 trillion in future fuel costs while protecting the climate…”
Their report provides a blueprint for rapidly cutting energy-related CO2 emissions to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions peak and then fall by 2015.
"Unlike other energy scenarios that promote energy futures at the cost of the climate, our energy revolution scenario shows how to save money and maintain global economic development without fuelling catastrophic climate change. All we need to kick start this plan is bold energy policy from world leaders," said Sven Teske, Greenpeace International's Senior Energy Expert and co-author of the report.
"Strict efficiency standards make sound economic sense and dramatically slow down rising global energy demand. The energy saved in industrialized countries will make space for increased energy use in developing economies," he added.
The Energy [R]evolution Report estimates that the additional costs for coal fuel from today until the year 2030 are as high as US$ 15.9 trillion, more than what is required to pay for the Energy [R]evolution. Additionally, renewable energy sources will produce electricity without any further fuel costs beyond 2030, creating an enormous number of jobs and helping lift the world out of its global recession.
Copies of the Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook report can be downloaded at: www.greenpeace.org/energyrevolution and www.erec.org
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