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Doing Business with the World - Mapeo de Promotores de RSE

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How businesscan contributeThe key to a sustainable energy futurefor <strong>the</strong> planet rests on four actions: amove toward a low-carbon economy,reduced <strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>ncy on fossil fuels,significantly improved energy efficiencyacross all sectors, and <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>velopmentof cheap and affordable energy solutionsfor <strong>the</strong> 2.4 billion people who rely ontraditional biomass.Some of <strong>the</strong> lower carbon solutions,such as nuclear energy, already exist andare wi<strong>de</strong>ly <strong>de</strong>ployed. Hydroelectric, solar,wind and wave power are rapidlyimproving in terms of cost effectiveness,<strong>with</strong> Western Europe leading in <strong>the</strong><strong>de</strong>velopment of wind-generated power.Technology will be nee<strong>de</strong>d to increase<strong>the</strong> efficiency of solar energy andbatteries to store renewable energies.Clean coal technologies such asintegrated gasification combined cycle(IGCC) are being tested. Gasification alsoallows new coal plants to <strong>de</strong>velopcarbon capture and storage (CCS). Thesetechnologies can consi<strong>de</strong>rably reduce<strong>the</strong> environmental impact of coal-firedpower generation, while enabling coalrichnations such as China, India, SouthAfrica and Australia to cleanly takeadvantage of <strong>the</strong>ir abundant coalsupplies. Funding of a number of largescaleCCS-projects could reduce costsand promote a global CCS industry.New markets are emerging. Markets foralternative forms of energy already exist,but <strong>the</strong>se forms of energy remain un<strong>de</strong>rused.O<strong>the</strong>r growing energy sectorsinclu<strong>de</strong> markets for energy conservationservices and energy-efficienttechnologies. Energy efficiency measuresmake perfect sense for companies as apotential way to help reduce operatingcosts. To increase end-user energyefficiency, energy savings can becertified, and <strong>the</strong> certificates can <strong>the</strong>n betra<strong>de</strong>d (so-called “white certificates”).Some European countries (Italy, France,<strong>the</strong> UK) have started implementing suchschemes.Lastly, companies can <strong>de</strong>velop energysystems based on locally availableresources – such as biomass or smallhydro – and tailor <strong>the</strong>m to local needs.Local energy companies can help. Theytend to have in-<strong>de</strong>pth local knowledgeof requirements and of potentialmarkets, but <strong>the</strong>y often lack <strong>the</strong>capacity and <strong>the</strong> financial resources toprovi<strong>de</strong> infrastructure and energysolutions. Larger corporations canpartner <strong>with</strong> local companies to buildcapacity and <strong>de</strong>velop locally tailoredsolutions. By doing so, <strong>the</strong>y willfacilitate improved access to energyservices while enhancing <strong>the</strong>ir ownmarket share. Public-privatepartnerships could also help meet<strong>de</strong>veloping country energy needs.Key messagesFor business, investing insustainable energy services can: Create new markets and associatedrevenue streams for energy-relatedproducts and services for currentlyun<strong>de</strong>rserved populations in<strong>de</strong>veloping countries; Create competitive advantages by<strong>de</strong>veloping new and affordableenergy technologies that reduceemissions and/or improve energyefficiency; Reduce reliance on fossil fuels in<strong>the</strong> energy mix, <strong>the</strong>reby reducingsome of <strong>the</strong> exposure to volatilecru<strong>de</strong> prices; Lower operating costs by improvingenergy efficiency.For governments, an effectivepolicy framework for sustainableenergy services can: Improve access and reliability ofenergy supplies, <strong>the</strong>rebygenerating economic growth andhuman progress; Lead to successful implementationof lower carbon technologies using,for example, <strong>the</strong> Clean DevelopmentMechanism (CDM) to achieve scale;policies must place more emphasison <strong>the</strong> materiality and repeatabilityof solutions; Promote growth in <strong>the</strong> small andmedium enterprise (SME) sector toprovi<strong>de</strong> energy services,particularly in rural areas, <strong>the</strong>rebygenerating sustainable enterprisesas well as facilitating energy access; Raise consumer awareness of energyefficiency, <strong>the</strong>reby reducing <strong>the</strong>requirements for new energyprojects and freeing up capital foro<strong>the</strong>r basic needs; Improve public health by promotingcleaner forms of energy supply; Reduce <strong>de</strong>forestation and ecosystem<strong>de</strong>gradation arising from biomassharvesting.19

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