It’s not the first time we hear an official organization saying something along these lines, but it’s a message worth hammering out over and over again.
According to Business Green, the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) released a report today where it argues that the country, one of the biggest CO2 emitters in the word at number 8, should be able to reach a 30% renewable energy share of the energy mix by 2030. The report also suggests the figure could be as high as 45% depending on how renewable energy technology develops in terms of cost and applicability.
CCC chief David Kennedy told the publication that 30 per cent is not the maximum of what is technically feasible but a more realist target in the face of current economic factors.
The report foresees a varied future energy mix that includes wind and marine energy, air and ground source heat pumps and bioenergy for heat generation.
The document also makes two important points. First, the transition to alternative energy is not going to happen on its own, probably meaning that strong, clear policies are required to make it happen. Second, it advises government not to rely on biofuels to decarbonize transportation as these have been shown, in some cases at least, to generate more emissions than they actually reduce , besides competing with food crops. ICC suggests electrified transport and improved efficiency as alternative measures to bioenergy.
All in all, it sounds like a sensible paper.
Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.
