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| Energy needs 'to grow inexorably' | Energy needs 'to grow inexorably' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The global demand for energy is set to grow inexorably through to 2030 if governments do not change their policies, warns a top energy official. | |
| Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said such a rise would threaten energy security and accelerate climate change. | Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said such a rise would threaten energy security and accelerate climate change. |
| He said energy needs in 2030 could be more than 50% above current levels, with fossil fuels still dominant. | He said energy needs in 2030 could be more than 50% above current levels, with fossil fuels still dominant. |
| Mr Tanaka was speaking at the launch of the IEA's World Energy Outlook report. | Mr Tanaka was speaking at the launch of the IEA's World Energy Outlook report. |
| Rapid economic growth in China and India would be the main drivers behind the rise, he said as he unveiled the agency's annual flagship publication. | Rapid economic growth in China and India would be the main drivers behind the rise, he said as he unveiled the agency's annual flagship publication. |
| "The emergence of new major players in global energy markets means that all countries must take vigorous, immediate and collective action to curb runaway energy demand," he warned. | "The emergence of new major players in global energy markets means that all countries must take vigorous, immediate and collective action to curb runaway energy demand," he warned. |
| "Rapid economic development will undoubtedly continue to drive up energy demand in China and India, and will contribute to a real improvement in the quality of life for more than two billion people. | "Rapid economic development will undoubtedly continue to drive up energy demand in China and India, and will contribute to a real improvement in the quality of life for more than two billion people. |
| "This is a legitimate aspiration that needs to be accommodated and supported by the rest of the world." | "This is a legitimate aspiration that needs to be accommodated and supported by the rest of the world." |
| Rising emissions | Rising emissions |
| The World Energy Outlook 2007 report warned that much of the increased demand for energy would be met by coal. | The World Energy Outlook 2007 report warned that much of the increased demand for energy would be met by coal. |
| We need to act now to bring about a radical shift in investment in favour of cleaner, more efficient and more secure energy technologies Nobuo Tanaka,IEA executive director | We need to act now to bring about a radical shift in investment in favour of cleaner, more efficient and more secure energy technologies Nobuo Tanaka,IEA executive director |
| As a result, energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could rise by 57% - from 27 giga-tonnes in 2005 to 42 giga-tonnes in 2030, it said. | As a result, energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could rise by 57% - from 27 giga-tonnes in 2005 to 42 giga-tonnes in 2030, it said. |
| Even in the report's "alternative policy scenario", which takes into account the governments' proposed action to save energy and cut emissions, CO2 levels are set to rise by 25%. | Even in the report's "alternative policy scenario", which takes into account the governments' proposed action to save energy and cut emissions, CO2 levels are set to rise by 25%. |
| But it offered a glimmer of hope within its "450 Stabilisation" case study. | But it offered a glimmer of hope within its "450 Stabilisation" case study. |
| It described a notional strategy for governments to stabilise CO2 levels in the atmosphere at about 450 parts per million (ppm), which some scientists and policy makers suggest is an acceptable concentration. | It described a notional strategy for governments to stabilise CO2 levels in the atmosphere at about 450 parts per million (ppm), which some scientists and policy makers suggest is an acceptable concentration. |
| "Emissions savings come from improved efficiency in industry, buildings and transport, switching to nuclear power and renewables, and the widespread deployment of carbon capture and storage," the report said. | "Emissions savings come from improved efficiency in industry, buildings and transport, switching to nuclear power and renewables, and the widespread deployment of carbon capture and storage," the report said. |
| This approach would see global emissions peak in 2012 then fall sharply below 2005 levels by 2030, it suggested. | This approach would see global emissions peak in 2012 then fall sharply below 2005 levels by 2030, it suggested. |
| But it added: "Exceptionally quick and vigourous policy action by all countries, and unprecedented technological advances, entailing substantial costs, would be needed to make this case a reality." | But it added: "Exceptionally quick and vigourous policy action by all countries, and unprecedented technological advances, entailing substantial costs, would be needed to make this case a reality." |
| Mr Tanaka stressed the need for urgency in the battle against climate change: "We need to act now to bring about a radical shift in investment in favour of cleaner, more efficient and more secure energy technologies." | Mr Tanaka stressed the need for urgency in the battle against climate change: "We need to act now to bring about a radical shift in investment in favour of cleaner, more efficient and more secure energy technologies." |