IEA: World's energy use is 'patently unsustainable'

The International Energy Agency raised the alarm Wednesday with the release of its annual report, emphasizing that a revolution in the energy business is required to maintain economic growth and stabilize greenhouse gas emissions.

The IEA's World Energy Outlook 2008 report, written for policymakers, paints a troubling picture in terms of energy costs and global warming due to burning fossil fuels. It calls for "radical action" from governments at all levels and for a coordinated international response.

"Current trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable--environmentally, economically and socially--they can and must be altered," Nobuo Tanaka, the IEA's executive director, said at the release of the report.

Although softening demand has pushed the price for oil down recently, the rising cost of extraction, combined with declining productivity rates at oil fields, means that the "era of cheap oil is over," according to the report.

The IEA's annual report forecasts that energy demand will spike in the next two decades, driven in large part by fast-growing India and China. OECD refers to the 30 developed nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

(Credit: IEA)

The study also lays outs the changes needed to stabilize carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and concludes that massive amounts of capital will be required.

To limit the increase in temperatures to 3 degrees Celsius by 2030 would require a huge increase of low-carbon energy--nuclear, hydropower, biomass, renewables, and underground carbon storage. That scenario would require a $4.1 trillion investment, or 0.2 percent of the world's annual GDP.

From the report's executive summary:

"It is not an exaggeration to claim that the future of human prosperity depends on how successfully we tackle the two central energy challenges facing us today: securing the supply of reliable and affordable energy; and effecting a rapid transformation to a low-carbon, efficient, and environmentally benign system of energy supply. What is needed is nothing short of an energy revolution."

The IEA's call to action to policymakers reemphasizes the long-term trends that many clean-technology businesses are already betting on. Even with the credit crunch and falling prices for fossil fuels, clean-energy investors and entrepreneurs predict positive growth in their sector over the long term.

In the U.S., the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress bode well for policies that promote clean technologies to address economic development and climate change.

[SandraSB]

This is the challenge of our generation. In late October ,Reuters reported that China wants rich countries to commit 1 percent of their economic worth to help poor nations fight global warming, and that it will press for a new international mechanism to spread 'green' technology worldwide. It seems like a reasonable approach to me. That 1% would be around $130 billion ? about what we are spending for a year of war in Iraq.

[kgsbca]

it's unsustainable as long as we continue to use oil and coal. it becomes very sustainable when we switch to solar and wind. that transtion has already started. it's going to happen.

[Penguinisto]

Energy use growth is only unsustainable when we rely on fossil fuels exclusively (as stated by others), and everyone stays here on Earth to get it.

There are no alternatives to our energy demand curve - going back to pre-industrial times (or even close to it) means that roughly 2/3 of the human population will either starve to death, or will be killed in the wars which will erupt over basic resources (food, potable water, energy...)

Nothing will stop "global warming". Climate change is a lot bigger than we mere humans have the ability to combat or to change. The thermometer will raise or fall no matter what we do. While I have no problems at all with responsibility in how we treat our environment, crippling civilization, economies, and launching "carbon cap" ponzi schemes in the name of 'doing something' simply isn't the answer.

/P

[BenFlavoredCandy]

Our energy demand curve will not be completely sustainable regardless of new fuel sources. The cheapest and simplest solution has always been efficiency.

Also, thanks IEA for finally issuing a report like this. It isn't like people have been saying this for years or anything. Regardless, everyone should at least read the abstract/intro to the report. Gain some perspective.

[Manhattan2]

We have been saying this for years and already have a solution to increase the percentage of global renewable energy production. Email us at solartransfer if you want to be a part of the solution.

[intelligent_design]

a simple thing which can be done now with little or no investment is to turn off lights in shops, shopping malls, offices and other places at night when there is no one at these locations.

This is one simple thing which all can do which will not only save money but also reduce carbon emissions.

[jemiller0]

Maybe now that we have a new President we can finally begin to address this problem. The past 8 years have been a total waste. Bush is an idiot.

[JoeFox2]

If anyone thinks the IEA has any ability to predict future energy demand or production, I've got some mountain top property in Florida to sell you. The IEA is a political group. Their reports are best used to start campfires.

As for energy demand, every major step in the advancement of civilization has been based on the conversion to a higher energy density fuel source. No amount of 500W/m2 solar farms or intermittent wind turbines is going to help. The ONLY solution is radio thermal power generation (that's what you people who don't understand call "nuclear power") for fixed power requirements and yes, hydrocarbon fuels for mobile energy needs. The sooner we boot the luddite greenies out of the conversation and get the engineers involved, the better off the entire world will be.

Trust me, mommy earth will be just fine. Go play with your iPods and let the professionals handle this.