Achieving this transition relies upon addressing key energy issues such as access to modern energy services, security of supply and the sustainability of the energy mix. Environmental degradation, increasing energy demand and unsustainable resource use are critical development challenges that require a coherent response. Renewable energy presents an opportunity as it will play an essential role in advancing sustainable development by providing millions with access to energy, whilst helping ensure energy security, mitigating the existential risk of climate change by reducing emissions, and generating growth and employment.
Accelerating the “Silent Revolution” globally requires greater levels of commitment and cooperation to develop enabling policy, combined with practical business solutions. To facilitate this, policy makers, scientists and businesses require access to up-to-date, relevant and reliable data. Scenarios are a helpful aid for decision making, by mapping out the complex issues and information that must be considered. Through its investigation of issues surrounding the future of energy, the Global Energy [R]evolution 2015 makes an invaluable contribution to informing decision-makers worldwide.
The benefits associated with renewables are influencing how countries meet their energy needs; the global increase in renewable energy policies and investment attests to this. This growth in the uptake of renewable energy - the “Silent Revolution” - is playing out across the globe: over the last decade 553,000 MW of renewable energy capacity has been installed, with global total investment reaching a record $ 270 billion in 2014, and the cost of modern renewable energy technologies continues to fall.
The Global Energy [R]evolution publication is an important complement to IRENA’s efforts to provide knowledge and expertise, and to facilitate the flow of information encouraging the deployment of renewables. Therefore, IRENA welcomes this fourth edition of the Global Energy [R]evolution scenario, and the contribution the Global Wind Energy Council, Solar Power Europe and Greenpeace have made to the vital debate on transitioning the world to a more secure and sustainable energy future.
Adnan Z. Amin DIRECTOR - GENERAL , INTERNATIONAL RENEWAbLE ENERGy AGENCy
© PAUL LANGROCK/GREENPEACE
SEPTEMBER 2015
Transport: DLR, Institute of vehicle concepts, Stuttgart, Germany: Dr. Stephan Schmid, Dr. Doruk Özdemir, Johannes Pagenkopf, florian kleiner
Grid and rural electrification technology: energynautics Gmbh, Langen/Germany; Dr. Thomas Ackermann, Dr. Tom brown (chapter 10)
Employment: Institute for Sustainable futures, university of Technology, Sydney: Jay Rutovitz, Elsa Dominish, Jenni Downes (chapter 6/7)
Contributing authors: Simon boxer; GP New zealand (chapter 10), Dr. Ricardo baitelo & Larissa A. Rodrigues Greenpeace brazil (chapter 6)
Editor: craig Morris, Petite Planète www.petiteplanete.org Design & Layout: Tania Dunster, Jens christiansen, onehemisphere, Sweden www.onehemisphere.se
Contact: info@greenpeace.de info@gwec.net This research has been co-financed by: umweltstiftung / Greenpeace, hongkong Strasse 10, 20457 hamburg, Germany, Melanie Stöhr umweltstiftung-greenpeace.de
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