Industrial transformation towards sustainability of the energy system |
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Authors: | Pier Vellinga |
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Institution: | (1) Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM)/, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1115, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Human induced climate change is one of the single most significant indicators that human society is not pursuing a sustainable
trajectory. Managing the risks requires a major transformation of the way energy needs are met. Such a transformation includes
changes in the production and consumption system and the incentive structure that shapes this system. The major driving force
for transformation is the public concern about the environmental impact of the present fossil fuel based energy system. We
may expect that energy producers, encouraged by governments, NGOs and consumer preferences will be responding to these concerns
and expectations sooner or later. In fact a number of major international energy companies are presently adjusting their strategies
to the needs and concerns of the public. A mix of measures including energy efficiency, a switch to natural gas, major investments
in low carbon and renewable energy technologies and underground storage of carbon are elements of such new strategies. Consumers
in a number of OECD countries have expressed their willingness to pay more for energy, provided it is green and clean. NGOs
continue to put pressure on governments to deal with the climate problem. The challenge for governments is to develop an institutional
framework that helps the producers and consumers to go through a transformation of the energy system. As different groups
in society are likely to support different strategies, this paper suggests that a pluralistic policy approach including efficiency
standards, renewable energy portfolio standards, carbon taxes, and the introduction of a system of tradable emission permits
is the most promising approach for a transformation towards a low carbon energy economy. Research can support a transformation
of the energy system by exploring the various transformation scenarios. Such research should take a multi-disciplinary approach,
it should focus on the energy system as a whole, including production, consumption and the incentive structure that shapes
the interaction between the two and it should be international in scope.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | industrial transformation energy sector climate change policies carbon dioxide energy efficiency carbon sequestration renewable energy incentive structure production consumption |
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