IEA says UN climate report shows need to halt 'dangerous' energy use |
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Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:02
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PARIS (AFX) - The International Energy Agency (IEA) said the release of a new United Nations assessment about global warming drove home the need to tackle the 'unsustainable and dangerous pattern' of current fossil-fuel energy use.The Paris-based agency said the new data put forward by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 'highlight the urgent need for global coordinated action' to tackle global warming and its effects.'Under current policies, global emissions (of the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide) will increase by 50 pct by 2030 and more than double by 2050,' the IEA said, quoting its own emissions projections.'However, if we act now, this unsustainable and dangerous pattern can be curved,' the agency said in a statement.It said that better energy efficiency and a switch to cleaner fuels would help brake the rise in current emissions of carbon dioxinde (CO2) and also meet ever-growing demands for energy in developing countries.'Ten pct of global energy consumption could be saved by 2030 -- roughly equivalent to China's entire consumption today -- through energy efficiency policies currently under consideration by governments and existing technologies,' the IEA said.'However, for long-term sustainability and security we need diversified energy supplies and a very sharp reduction in CO2 emissions to mitigate global warming,' it said. 'There is no single solution.'A smart energy mix would combine fuel efficiency improvements with more renewables, more nuclear energy and installations that capture carbon dioxide from fossil fuels before the dangerous gas is emitted into the atmosphere, the IEA said.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/gpCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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UK minister urges global political action to combat climate change 