Launching an energy revolution in a time of economic crisis: the case for a low-carbon energy technology platform

Energy efficiency, many types of renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, nuclear power and new transport technologies all need to be deployed widely to curtail greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while promoting energy security. Every major country and sector of the economy must be involved. The task is urgent; investment decisions taken now could saddle nations with sub-optimal technologies and rising emissions for decades. At the G8 Energy Ministers Meeting on May 24-25, the IEA presented ideas for enhancing international collaboration on clean energy technologies, including the creation of a low-carbon energy technology platform to devise an international strategy for enabling all countries, developed and developing to work together and with the private sector to accelerate the development, deployment and transfer of clean energy technologies. (The ideas were also presented at the May 25-26 meeting of the Major Economies Forum.) The G8 Ministers (with the European Energy Commissioner) endorsed the proposal for a low-carbon energy technology platform and called on the IEA to elaborate it further. G8 leaders are now asked to consider this proposal with their counterparts from Major Economies and provide further guidance.