Deciding the Future: Energy Policy Scenarios to 2050

Deciding the Future: Energy Policy Scenarios to 2050 World Energy Council 2007 Recommendations
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Table 7-1 Regional level of progress toward the Acceptability goal
2005–2020 2020–2035 2035–2050
Africa Accessibility focus Accessibility and Availability
focus
Asia
Europe
Accessibility and Availability
focus
Acceptability focus - Reduced
emissions growth
Availability and Accessibility
focus
Acceptability focus -Stable
emissions growth
Acceptability focus - Reduced
emissions growth
Acceptability focus - Reduced
Emissions Growth
Acceptability Focus – Low
Carbon Economy
Latin America Accessibility focus Availability focus Acceptability focus –
Reduced emissions growth
North America
Acceptability focus - Reduced
emissions growth
Acceptability focus -Stable
emissions growth
Acceptability focus – Low
carbon economy
reduced. Bold and unconventional steps are
called for. Governments, working with industry,
must identify the issues, available technologies,
research and development needs, standards,
and the paths forward - with the goals of
ensuring security of energy for transportation
and dealing with greenhouse gas emissions.
Not to be overlooked are local and regional
emissions and other environmental impacts
(e.g., water and agricultural land use). WEC
should work with the United Nations and other
NGOs to ensure its energy targets take into
account the water, health, agriculture, and
biodiversity concerns, which have been
addressed in the UN Millennium goals.
Without public awareness of the importance of
energy - its generation, distribution, and supply,
and the issues of security, access, and
environmental effects surrounding energy -
people will not be able to decide which course to
follow. Strong and coordinated steps are needed
to educate all people in the world about energy,
from basic principles to explanations of the
critical decisions that must be made by society.
Useful information must be disseminated clearly
and uniformly to the public at large by
governments and industry in a timely and
effective way.
7.2. Associated Messages
This study has drawn on the collective wisdom
and experience of people actively engaged in
the field of energy supplies and services, as well
as those who study energy from the outside. A
broad range of issues, concerns, and aspirations
were gathered from the energy community at
large. Not surprisingly, although the view of the
future differs from region to region, overarching
messages emerged. These messages resonate
in all regions of the world and are fundamental
to the achievement of the WEC Goals of
Accessibility, Availability, and Acceptability.
These messages are a clarion call to those
accountable for the formulation and
implementation of energy policy throughout the
world and highlight some fundamental gaps in
the energy fabric of today’s society. These
messages are grouped into three main themes:
• Managing change and complexity through
partnerships.
• Demand-side mobilisation.
• Energy leadership.
7.2.1. Managing Change and Complexity
through Partnerships
The global energy sector will transform through
2050 and will become increasingly complex. The
pressure on decision makers in both the public
and private sectors will increase and, in
particular, the demands on those responsible for
energy policy will intensify. Policies formulated
today and the resulting actions and behaviours
of citizens will have effects and consequences
far into the future. Political expediency will have
dire consequences for energy sustainability.
The future is far from certain and the rate of
technology change in both the supply and