Rationale for renewable energies

TBP01-rationale.pdf (640 KB)

Author: José Goldemberg

The paper describes and analyses the benefits of renewable energies in social, environmental, economic and security terms.

Some 2.0 billion people live today without a modern energy supply. At the same time, an estimated 1.6 million people die every year from illnesses caused by indoor air pollution due to energy use. A wider use of modern or appropriate renewable energies can result in significant benefits, such as development opportunities for local economies or improved health.

Emissions of greenhouse gases from energy consumption are the major human contribution to global climate change. The substitution of renewable energies for conventional fossil fuels is thus an essential prerequisite for mitigating climate change.

The rapidly growing renewable energy sectors in many countries clearly demonstrate that systematic promotion of such new technologies offers a great opportunity for innovation, business and a wide variety of jobs.

Discussions of energy security have been high on the international political agenda ever since the oil crisis of the 1970s, and have been raised again through the wars in the Gulf region. In this context, renewable energies can help to diversify energy supply, to increase energy security and to circumvent hidden costs.

Finally, technological and process innovations can spill over into other technological or economic sectors.

	Rationale for renewable energies
TBP01-rationale.pdf (640 KB) Author: José Goldemberg The paper describes and analyses the benefits of renewable energies in social, environmental, economic and security terms. Some 2.0 billion people live today without a modern energy supply. At the same time, an estimated 1.6 million people die every year from illnesses caused by indoor air pollution due to energy use. A wider use of modern or appropriate renewable energies can result in significant benefits, such as development opportunities for local economies or improved health. Emissions of greenhouse gases from energy consumption are the major human contribution to global climate change. The substitution of renewable energies for conventional fossil fuels is thus an essential prerequisite for mitigating climate change. The rapidly growing renewable energy sectors in many countries clearly demonstrate that systematic promotion of such new technologies offers a great opportunity for innovation, business and a wide variety of jobs. Discussions of energy security have been high on the international political agenda ever since the oil crisis of the 1970s, and have been raised again through the wars in the Gulf region. In this context, renewable energies can help to diversify energy supply, to increase energy security and to circumvent hidden costs. Finally, technological and process innovations can spill over into other technological or economic sectors.
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