New technologies and international co-operation have a pivotal role to play in climate change mitigation

19-Jun-2009 - Finland

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland produces a great deal of energy and environmental research information that can be utilised in both public, enterprise and personal decision-making. VTT published a book entitled ‘Energy Visions 2050’. The scenarios described in the book suggest that the development and deployment of new technologies coupled with close international climate co-operation could enable us to mitigate climate change, but success will be dependent on renewal of the entire energy system by the year 2050.

Structural changes in societies and in the energy system occur very slowly. The transition to a more efficient energy system based on renewable and zero-emission energy sources has only just begun. It will be a long and complex process, which all levels of society and actors from governments to individual consumers can influence by their decisions and choices. US and EU decision-makers now have an opportunity to show leadership in energy and climate issues. The future offers huge opportunities to those who take the lead in the development and deployment of climate mitigation and energy technologies.

It is estimated that the world’s need for energy will almost double by the year 2050 if the present demand trend continues. Developing countries such as China and India will account for most of the growth in energy demand. It is estimated that global carbon dioxide emissions will have to be halved from their year 2000 level by 2050 if climate warming is to be limited to 2 degrees Celsius.

Fossil fuel resources are limited and, especially in the case of oil and natural gas, geographically concentrated. The majority of these resources are located within the territories of a relatively small number of states. If consumption were to remain at its present level over the coming decades, easily exploitable reserves for crude oil and natural gas are estimated to become limited within 40 to 70 years. Besides climate change mitigation, the energy security of nations and groups of nations is expected to become as significant future challenge and development driver. The global energy system, over 80 per cent of which is currently based on fossil fuels, will have to be changed radically by the year 2050. On the other hand, because renewal of the energy system will occur very slowly, the effects of decisions made today will remain with us for decades to come.

There are already new solutions on the horizon that will improve energy efficiency and assist in the transition to renewable and zero-emission energy sources. Already commercialised technologies offer plenty of opportunities for energy conservation and improved energy efficiency. In the building sector, for instance, current commercial technologies that typically add just a few per cent to construction costs enable energy efficiency improvements of tens of per cent to be made in heating.

The scenarios presented by the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and the Government Institute for Economic Research (VATT) in Energy Visions 2050 are based on extensive modelling, which has provided global scenarios for structural change in the global economy, the future structure of the energy system, and effective control of greenhouse gas emissions. The scenarios show that the mitigation of climate change through the development and deployment of new technologies and international climate co-operation is technical possible.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/102305/new-technologies-and-international-co-operation-have-a-pivotal-role-to-play-in-climate-change-mitigation.html