International Energy Agency urges stop-gap climate action

[muriel_volestrangler]

A sticking plaster solution for climate change has been proposed by the world's top energy think tank, the International Energy Agency (IEA).

It says climate change could pass a critical level if the world waits until 2020 for the planned comprehensive UN deal to cut emissions.

In the meantime, it recommends some short-term measures.

These include action on energy efficiency, coal-fired power stations, and fossil fuel subsidies.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22845425

As long as it's all recognised as stop-gap measures, and the increase of renewables still gets attention, it sounds politically feasible.

[Buzz Clik]

1. Here's the list:

1) Energy efficiency is the bedrock of the approach (49%) with recommended energy performance standards in all countries for lights, heating, and appliances.

2) Limiting the use of old polluting coal-fired power stations.

3) Halving methane releases from upstream oil and gas operations by 2020.

4) The partial phase out of fossil fuel subsidies.

Notice the emphasis here once we get past point 1: get rid of dirty fossil fuels and capture methane from upstream oil and gas operations. Nowhere does it suggest killing gas production at all.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Because it's a stop-gap

I'm not that optimistic that a good long term agreement, with the agreed phase out of all fossil fuels, can be reached by 2020. But this is something to get government to work with until then.

[Buzz Clik]

4. Exactly!

[kristopher]

2. Very good information

Even this 'stopgap' approach is going to encounter difficulties, though. The idea of focusing on carbon capture and energy efficiency is undermined by the lack of progress on carbon capture technology and the resistance to energy efficiency by the nuclear lobby.