construction sector, and to upscale the technological interventions so as to pursue
low-carbon growth (RICS 2009).
In this regard, decarburization is also viewed as an effective way to mitigate
enhanced CO 2 emissions. It has made decarburization an international policy priority (IPCC 2007). Economy and society have grown around carbon-based fuels over
decades and centuries so that CO 2 emissions are embedded into set patterns of work,
leisure, travel, and heating. That also means that there are multiple possible ways to
decarbonize, such as changing lifestyles, improving energy efficiency, and finding
various ways to produce energy. Assessing and comparing these multiple
opportunities, and taking account of how they might change over time means dealing
with many uncertainties, and no firm forecasts of the best routes for decarburization
can be offered (Winskel et al. 2009).
The Member States of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) concluded the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change and to
strengthen the actions desired for a sustainable transition towards a low-carbon
future (Busu 2019). Low-carbon solutions refer to all measures and methods
designed to reduce the use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas (which give off
a lot of CO 2 when burned) by replacing them with renewables. Low-carbon
solutions are an integral part of the energy transition. It is a way of thinking,
behaving, and operating that minimizes carbon emissions while enabling sustainable
use of resources, economic growth, and improvements in quality life. The transition
to a low-carbon economy heralds an appealing but challenging economic and social
transformation.
Indeed a low-carbon economy provide impetus for sustainable growth and also
resilience against energy crisis. The whole world has a role to play in creating the
transition to a low-carbon economy. Low-carbon technology development is essential. Its application can make a difference by changing the collective behaviour of
businesses, individuals, communities, and the public sector. A practical policy
framework must serve as the backbone for a low-carbon development path. The
programme needs its own set of supporting laws, making it necessary to revise
national legislation, including regulations, rules, and standards backed up by a series
of policies and strong political support.
12.2 World Energy Transition
The world has undergone various energy transitions between different energy
sources since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. These so-called Kondratieff
long-waves are depicted in terms of world primary energy shares in Fig. 12.1
(Hammond and Waldron 2008), alongside future pathways out to 2050, as suggested
by the Shell “Dynamics as Usual” Scenario (Davis 2001). “Traditional” energy
sources include animal manure, fuelwood, water wheels, and windmills. In the
coming decades, there could be significant growth in energy demand resulting
from population growth and economic development (Hammond and Waldron
2008; Allen and Hammond 2019). Dynamics, as usual, scenario emphasizes choices
12 Renewable Energy for a Low-Carbon Future: Policy Perspectives
269
low-carbon growth (RICS 2009).
In this regard, decarburization is also viewed as an effective way to mitigate
enhanced CO 2 emissions. It has made decarburization an international policy priority (IPCC 2007). Economy and society have grown around carbon-based fuels over
decades and centuries so that CO 2 emissions are embedded into set patterns of work,
leisure, travel, and heating. That also means that there are multiple possible ways to
decarbonize, such as changing lifestyles, improving energy efficiency, and finding
various ways to produce energy. Assessing and comparing these multiple
opportunities, and taking account of how they might change over time means dealing
with many uncertainties, and no firm forecasts of the best routes for decarburization
can be offered (Winskel et al. 2009).
The Member States of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) concluded the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change and to
strengthen the actions desired for a sustainable transition towards a low-carbon
future (Busu 2019). Low-carbon solutions refer to all measures and methods
designed to reduce the use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas (which give off
a lot of CO 2 when burned) by replacing them with renewables. Low-carbon
solutions are an integral part of the energy transition. It is a way of thinking,
behaving, and operating that minimizes carbon emissions while enabling sustainable
use of resources, economic growth, and improvements in quality life. The transition
to a low-carbon economy heralds an appealing but challenging economic and social
transformation.
Indeed a low-carbon economy provide impetus for sustainable growth and also
resilience against energy crisis. The whole world has a role to play in creating the
transition to a low-carbon economy. Low-carbon technology development is essential. Its application can make a difference by changing the collective behaviour of
businesses, individuals, communities, and the public sector. A practical policy
framework must serve as the backbone for a low-carbon development path. The
programme needs its own set of supporting laws, making it necessary to revise
national legislation, including regulations, rules, and standards backed up by a series
of policies and strong political support.
12.2 World Energy Transition
The world has undergone various energy transitions between different energy
sources since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. These so-called Kondratieff
long-waves are depicted in terms of world primary energy shares in Fig. 12.1
(Hammond and Waldron 2008), alongside future pathways out to 2050, as suggested
by the Shell “Dynamics as Usual” Scenario (Davis 2001). “Traditional” energy
sources include animal manure, fuelwood, water wheels, and windmills. In the
coming decades, there could be significant growth in energy demand resulting
from population growth and economic development (Hammond and Waldron
2008; Allen and Hammond 2019). Dynamics, as usual, scenario emphasizes choices
12 Renewable Energy for a Low-Carbon Future: Policy Perspectives
269