Continuing with this edition’s focus on air we take a look at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) third publication in its Energy and Climate series. The publication, “Policy Directions to 2050” looks at pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It emphasises the need for “decisive, concerted and sustained actions” between governments, businesses and consumers if we are to combat climate change.
The publication outlines a roadmap for transitioning to a low greenhouse gas (GHG) economy. It identifies policy options to sustain economic growth while transforming the ways we access, produce and consume energy.
It calls for the development and deployment of leading-edge technologies through partnerships and incentives and an approach to mitigate long-term market risk and deliver secure benefits for large-scale, low-carbon, new-technology projects.
“Policy Directions to 2050” explores and introduces ideas for a new international framework and addresses key policy issues within power generation, industry and manufacturing, mobility, buildings and consumer choices, asking three basic questions: What is needed? Why is it needed? How could it work?
The publication puts forward four policy priorities:
- The establishment of quantifiable, long-term (50-year), global emissions pathways for the management of GHG emissions by 2010;
- Closing the gap that will exist after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 using the existing international framework as a basis;
- Building robust national programmes to support the international framework. Such programmes would include: encouraging energy efficiency; broadening the range of fuels in the transport sector; and country-wide boosting of awareness and incentives for consumers across all levels of society toward low-carbon products, services and lifestyles; and
- Developing and commercialising a number of low- and zero-GHG technologies over the coming decades and creating an environment that encourages this.
The publication can be viewed in its entirety on the WBCSD website.
Previous publications in the series can be found at:
Also in this feature:
| 
