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Contributions from
the Column
Studies and reports
International ODA rate is far from its peak value
EU enlargement – an opportunity for European development policy
Energy turning point: efficiency revolution and break-even charges
After the war: what form of government for Iraq?
The small arms problem cannot be solved in isolation
Pro-poor growth to reduce poverty
Foreign investment: democracies preferred?
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[ 16th Berlin Conference on Globalisation ]
Energy turning point: efficiency revolution and break-even charges
Representatives of the energy industry cancelled their attendance. So at the16th Conference on Globalisation held at the Berlin branch of the KfW on May 6 the supporters of a change in energy supply were left to themselves. At all events, on the platform there was controversy over whether and in what timeframe the change towards greater use of renewable energy sources – especially in the developing countries – can be realised. At present, three-quarters of the world's energy users are supplied from fossil fuel sources which at some time will be exhausted. Until then, global CO2 emissions will continue to increase. Moreover, another two billion people are still waiting for access to energy supply. Despite all savings and efficiency measures, global consumption of energy is likely to more than double over the next 20 years.
In view of these forecasts and following the energy policy flop at the Johannesburg Summit, at which the demand for a binding rate of 15 per cent for the use of renewable energy was rejected by the USA and the oil-exporting countries, Helmut Grassl, chairman of the German Federal government's Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU), complained that the government had reduced its funds promoting energy research. He said that if it were possible to use one five-thousandth of the solar energy transmitted to the earth, the global energy supply problem could be solved and the use of coal, oil and gas phased out.
Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, chairman of the Bundestag Committee for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, added that in the short term it was impossible to replace fossil fuels by renewable energy sources. Von Weizsäcker propagated once again 'Factor 4', meaning the productivity of energy supply must be quadrupled in a technological revolution. Whoever used e-mail instead of air mail was already boosting efficiency 1,000-fold. He advised the developing countries to ascertain the energy needs of end-users, charge 10 [euro] cents per kilowatt-hour, install electricity meters nationwide, and rebate to poor families the money they needed. He said the objective must be to replace by break-even charges systems the all-inclusive and subsidised charges for electricity in many poor countries which invited people to waste energy. Johannes Wendt
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