Expert calls for new technologies to tackle climate change
World leaders 'need' to aim for success of projects like putting man on the moon
Also In The News
|
West Bromwich Albion chairman Jeremy Peace has rejected a renewed attempt by Manchester United to buy their highly-rated Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak. |  |
Friday, 04, Aug 2006 10:29
World leaders should drive forward initiatives similar to the Apollo and Manhattan projects on an international scale in order to meet global energy demand, according to a UK science expert.
Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, cites the projects, which put a man on the moon and created the first atomic bomb, to highlight the scale of the projects needed to create new energy technologies while tackling climate change.
Writing in an editorial in the journal Science, Lord Rees argued that the joint communique issued by world leaders at the G8 summit in St Petersburg last month showed a worrying lack of determination to emphasise the need for R&D (research and development) funding for technologies that are less mainstream.
"Governments of industrial countries are not facing up to the huge energy challenges that lie ahead," he warned.
"That is disquieting because the IEA (International Energy Agency) is predicting that by 2030, based on current national policies, 80 per cent of the world's primary energy demand will be met by fossil fuels.
"Meanwhile, nuclear, hydro, biomass, and waste will provide 17 per cent, and other renewables, such as geothermal, solar, and wind energy will only account for less than two per cent."
He also highlighted the fact that public sector R&D investment in energy in most industrial countries has fallen sharply in real terms. In the 11 countries which are members of the IEA, investments in major R&D research areas fell by 53 per cent between 1990 and 2003.
"Unless there is a radical change, the world will continue to become more reliant on fossil fuels beyond 2030," Lord Rees said.
"Without unfeasibly dramatic breakthroughs in carbon sequestration and energy efficiency, this will lead to proportionate increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations."
He added that public funding would also have the positive impact of stimulating education and enrolments in science and technology.
His comments come days after the prime minister Tony Blair agreed a pact with Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to work with the US state to reduce greenhouse gases and develop efficient technologies.