Deciding the Future: Energy Policy Scenarios to 2050

Deciding the Future: Energy Policy Scenarios to 2050 World Energy Council 2007 Regional Achievement of the 3 A’s
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ensuring long-term progress). Such
change will contribute to the wider ability
to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
• Training is paramount to improve
management capabilities and drive
development to “best-in-class.”
• The region must exploit its generous
resource endowment, such as mineral
deposits, land, forestry, biodiversity,
climate and soil conditions favourable to
agriculture, and water and hydroelectric
potential. The benefit of using these
resources should be shared among local
communities and bring wider economic
and social benefit.
• International agreements and supply
contracts, diversification of supply
sources, and efficient supply logistics
should create sufficiently reliable supplies.
• Regional energy companies, such as
ARPEL or CIER, and governmentsponsored
entities, like OLADE, may be
instrumental in improving the region’s
energy security.
• Diversification of energy sources by
increasing the share and improving the
overall efficiency of renewable energy (as
well as hydropower, nuclear power, and
biofuels) will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and to improve energy supply
security. A number of other environmental
barriers also need to be overcome,
though in this context not least of which is
the acceptability of hydropower.
• There is a need to reduce traditional
biomass usage, particularly charcoal.
• The region should foster the efficient use
of agricultural byproducts for energy.
• Energy efficiency should be a major goal
because it will reduce primary energy
needs, reduce environmental effects, and
improve overall competitiveness of the
economy. Energy efficiency should be
evaluated on a life-cycle basis. This
should indicate the most appropriate
primary sources and secondary energies
to serve end-users.
5.5.5. North America
North America has identified the most important
areas for developing energy policy. Most of the
policies apply to each of the three countries in
the region and also to the four scenarios:
• Decision makers clearly need to balance
current and long-term considerations in
energy policy. It is important that energypolicy
development is based on a clear,
long-term vision, in-depth understanding
of consequences over the full economic
life of any associated developments, and
full appreciation of inherent complexities.
Certain improvements are desirable:
− There is a need to strengthen
integrated policy development for
North America, building on the North
America Energy Working Group, and
the subsequent Security and
Prosperity Partnership Agreement.