Shape of future environment depends on political choices:Report

New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) The political choices made in the coming years will determine the world's environmental and economic situation for many decades to come.

Renewable energy can and will have to play a leading role in the world's energy future. There is no technical but a political barrier to make this shift, say authors of a report brought out by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council.

The Report provides a practical blueprint on reducing global CO2 emissions by almost 50 per cent within the next 43 years, whilst providing a secure and affordable energy supply and, critically, maintaining steady worldwide economic development.

Titled Energy Revolution: A sustainable world energy outlook, the Report contends that renewable energy, combined with efficiencies from the 'smart use' of energy, can deliver half of the world's energy needs by 2050.

The 100-page report was developed in conjunction with specialists from the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).

Splitting the world into 10 regions, it provides a comprehensive global energy concept which gives a detailed analysis of how to restructure the global energy system based only on proven and sustainable technologies, such as renewable energy sources and efficient, decentralised cogeneration.

More than 30 scientists and engineers from universities, institutes and the renewable energy industry around the world collaborated to provide the detailed regional assessments for the future potential for renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.

The plan takes into account rapid economic growth areas such as China, India and Africa, and provides for the staged phasing out of nuclear and coal as environmentally unsafe or damaging fuel sources.

The report also highlights that the time window for making the key decisions in energy infrastructure - which will spark the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy - is relatively short.

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