Press Release 12 November 2007

WEC SETS GLOBAL TARGETS TO USHER IN A CLEANER ENERGY

Rome, Italy, 12 November 2007 - As debate intensifies over how to satisfy the world's growing thirst for energy while simultaneously meeting environmental goals, the World Energy Council today is introducing a series of global targets to raise energy access, increase the reliability of energy systems and curb energy-related emissions. The targets will benchmark progress by industry and government in building a sustainable energy future.

The targets figure in a new report published today, Deciding the Future: Energy Policy Scenarios to 2050. "The WEC targets can be achieved, given much greater levels of international cooperation between governments, closer government-private sector collaboration, increases in research and development, and further integration of energy markets," said Brian Statham, Chair of the WEC Energy Scenarios Study.

WEC targets the following:

- Halve the number of people without access to a minimum level of commercial energy to one billion by 2035, and halve again to 500 million by 2050;
- Develop commercial and physical energy systems that are 99% reliable in the US, Europe and parts of Asia by 2035, and in most of Asia, Africa and Latin America by 2050;
- Stabilize greenhouse emissions by 2035, and reduce man-made emissions by 2050, decoupling emissions growth from economic growth

"WEC Energy Scenarios clearly demonstrate by 2050 we can double energy supplies to meet world energy demand and build a sustainable energy future," said Robert Schock, WEC Director of Studies.

WEC Media contact:
Mathias Hocke: hocke@worldenergy.org
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 5996
Stephan Albrechtskirchinger: albrechtskirchinger@worldenergy.org
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7734 5996