Dreams, Science and Sustainable Energy

 

 

How to ensure that when policy makers come to an agreement, that agreed actions are implemented, is one of many challenges being discussed in a series of global scenarios workshops in London.

Among the many issues that are being hotly debated are the impact of climate change, planetary boundaries, renewables system integration technology and changing market structures. Attendees include the World Energy Council scenarios study group and industry experts from Accenture Strategy, Enerstrat, Enel Spa, Imperial College London, Infosys and the Climate Group.

Three workshops have already taken place where work groups have explored initial concepts such as framing possibilities for scenarios and discussing the crucial role that governments and policies play. The strong messages coming out of the workshops include:

 

 

There is wide agreement that taking serious consideration of these concepts, especially the latter, would shift the theme around green energy from dreams and good intentions to practicalities based on science.  When it comes to policy decision making, decisions need to be based on science and the practicalities of the international framework.

Another important conclusion from the workshops is that cohesive action is needed to pull together the different renewable energy technologies into one framework so that more integrated cross-border discussions between all stakeholders can take place.

It is recognised that climate change is happening, and the workshops have concluded that bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework – Convention on Climate Change should consider new ways of reaching out to the sceptics and those who are not preparing for the business and policy consequences.