The Energy [R]evolution 2012

ORIGINAL: Greenpeace

The Energy [R]evolution Scenario has become a well known and well respected energy analysis since it was first published for Europe in 2005. In 2012, the fourth Global Energy [R]evolution scenario was published; earlier editions were published in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Open publication - Free publishing

The Energy [R]evolution 2012 provides a consistent fundamental pathway for protecting our climate through investment in renewable energy. It's about getting the world from where we are now to where we need to be by phasing out fossil fuels and cutting CO2 emissions while ensuring energy security.

The expert consensus is that this fundamental shift in the way we consume and generate energy must begin immediately and be well underway within the next ten years in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The scale of the challenge requires a complete transformation of the way we produce, consume and distribute energy, while maintaining economic growth.

Policy changes

To make the Energy [R]evolution real and to avoid dangerous climate change, Greenpeace, GWEC and EREC demand that the following policies and actions are implemented in the energy sector:

• Phase out all subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
• Internalise the external (social and environmental) costs of energy production through ‘cap and trade’ emissions trading.
• Mandate strict efficiency standards for all energy consuming appliances, buildings and vehicles.
• Establish legally binding targets for renewable energy and combined heat and power generation.
• Reform the electricity markets by guaranteeing priority access to the grid for renewable power generators.
• Provide defined and stable returns for investors, for example by feed-in tariff programmes.
• Implement better labelling and disclosure mechanisms to provide more environmental product information.
• Increase research and development budgets for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Energy Revolution is produced together with our partners EREC and GWEC