A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN OUR HANDS - To Parent Directory

Climate changeRenewable energy is also being looked at as a way to furtherincrease sustainable energy sources. Through water power, solarenergy, biofuels, biomass and geothermal energy, the EU aims toguarantee that 20% of its overall energy mix comes from renewableenergy sources by 2020. Biofuels figure highly in this mix andare to supply 10% of petrol and diesel needs in the EU by 2020.Sweden currently leads Europe in its use of biofuels - with 2.3%.It is followed by Germany, the Czech Republic and France.While each renewable source has its pros and cons, investmentin technology will ensure that the EU harnesses the potential ofrenewables as fossil fuel-replacing sources. Another alternativesource is biomass and this is where the EU’s Biomass Action Plancomes in. Biomass includes anything that is solid and organic likewood and wood waste, straw, crop harvest residues, vegetal andanimal waste. This substitutes more traditional sources like coal,petrol and gas, which are limited and polluting. Measured in termsof ‘tons of oil equivalent’ (toe), the EU estimates the action planwill help to increase biomass use to 150 million toe in 2010.Security of supply is a real concern. The New Energy Policy forEurope Action Plan, adopted by the European Council in March2007, has as one of its main aims the provision of secure energysupplies. But while the EU is principally concerned with its ownmember countries, it is not working alone. Several partnershipswith industrialised and developing nations exist.The EU has initiated an energy dialogue with Russia, for example.It hopes to ensure a high level of environmental protection andnuclear safety with this country that accounts for 7% of world CO 2emissions. Through the Kyoto Protocol’s flexibility mechanism,efforts are being made to modernise Russia’s energy sector andin doing so to promote energy efficiency and environmentallyfriendly technologies.With the USA, an energy saving programme, Energy Star, is inplace for office equipment. Computers, copiers, printers andcomputer monitors all have to meet demanding energy efficiencycriteria. This measure is expected to yield 30 TWh electricitysavings in three years – the approximate equivalent of Hungary’selectricity demand.019