G8 May Neglect Climate in Pursuit of Energy Supply

LONDON, UK, June 14, 2006 (ENS) - The pledge by world leaders to curb climate change, made during the UK’s presidency of the G8 last year, must not be ignored during energy security talks at next month’s G8 Summit in Russia, the science academies of 12 major industrial nations urged today.

The academies of the G8 nations, along with China, Brazil, India and South Africa, published a joint statement on energy today warning of "very serious difficulties related to sustainability and security of energy."

Climate change, sharply rising and fluctuating oil and gas prices, providing fuels to the developing world, inefficient and wasteful use of energy, and a geographical mismatch between energy sources and users are the primary difficulties cited by the science academies. They warned of economic, social and environmental ramifications if these issues are not addressed.

Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science, and one of the statement’s signatories said, “Russia has highlighted energy security as a key issue for its presidency of the G8 and it is vital that this is considered in the broader context of the global threat of climate change as well as other environmental, social and economic concerns.

Martin Rees is professor of cosmology and astrophysics and master of Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. He holds the honorary title of Astronomer Royal and is a foreign associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. (Photo courtesy University of Cambridge)

The academies said in their joint statement that there are three inter-related components of sustainable development recognized by a broad international consensus - economic prosperity, social development, and environmental protection.

Sustainable and reliable supply of energy is one of the major conditions for achieving these three goals, for all countries of the world, the academies said, adding, "if energy sustainability and security fail, the primary human development goals cannot be achieved."

Energy security and supply is an overarching theme of Russia's G8 presidency. Russia’s economic growth over the past five years has been fueled primarily by energy exports, given the increase in Russian oil production and relatively high world oil prices during the period.

Irkutsk-6, a coal-fired power plant in Irkutsk, Russia. (Photo courtesy Irkutskenergo)

In their joint statement, the academies are warning that climate change considerations could get lost as countries move to secure petroleum supplies to power their economies.

“Dealing with energy security should not merely be seen as an opportunity, for example, to open up new markets for fossil fuels," said Rees. "The G8 has an opportunity to deal with the fundamental issue of how we power our increasingly ‘energy hungry’ economies, in the developed and developing worlds, while addressing the threat of climate change."

As some of the most intensive users of energy in the world, he said, "the G8 nations bear a special responsibility to help stimulate the clean energy revolution that will deliver economically, environmentally and socially while ensuring the lights stay on."

Eggborough coal-fired power plant in Lincolnshire, England (Photo by Christopher Bell)

The academies said that vigorous actions at national levels, and considerable international cooperation based on widespread public support will be needed to cope with energy demands while limiting climate change.

While emphasizing the need to increase efficiency of energy use, the academies said they recognize the special responsibility of the science and engineering community to help implement transitions to sustainable and secure energy systems.

They envision that future sources of energy will include clean coal and unconventional fossil resources, advanced nuclear systems, and renewable energy.

"Diversification of engine fuels, increased use of low-emissions technologies in personal transport, and a greater emphasis on deployment of urban mass transit would introduce much-needed flexibility and economy in a rapidly urbanizing world," the academies said.

The scientists said they welcome the opportunity to address energy sustainability and security at this year's G8 Summit and will continue to focus on these issues in the future.

In their statement the academies call on world leaders to plan for the massive infrastructure investments, and lead times required for a transition to clean, affordable and sustainable energy systems.

They said that the InterAcademy Council, established by the science academies of the world, is now conducting an in-depth examination of "this energy technology transition challenge," and they expect it will be completed within a year.

The signatories of the joint academies' statement on energy sustainability and security are:

• Academia Brasileira de Ciéncias, Brazil
• Royal Society of Canada, Canada
• Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
• Académie des Sciences, France
• Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina, Germany
• Indian National Science Academy, India
• Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italy
• Science Council of Japan, Japan
• Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
• Academy of Science of South Africa, South Africa
• Royal Society, United Kingdom
• National Academy of Sciences, United States of America