Renewable energy can power the world, says landmark IPCC study (xpost)

[bananas]

Posted in LBN:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4844463

Renewable energy can power the world, says landmark IPCC study
Source: Guardian

UN's climate change science body says renewables supply, particularly solar power, can meet global demand

Renewable energy could account for almost 80% of the world's energy supply within four decades - but only if governments pursue the policies needed to promote green power, according to a landmark report published on Monday.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the body of the world's leading climate scientists convened by the United Nations, said that if the full range of renewable technologies were deployed, the world could keep greenhouse gas concentrations to less than 450 parts per million, the level scientists have predicted will be the limit of safety beyond which climate change becomes catastrophic and irreversible.

Investing in renewables to the extent needed would cost only about 1% of global GDP annually, said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/09/ipcc-renewable-energy-power-world

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The report is being released at http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de /
The summary for policy makers is available now, pdf: http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de/report/report/srren-spm-fd4
The full report will be available May 31.

[kristopher]

1. "but only if governments pursue the policies needed to promote green power"

The executive summary is available and is an easy to read document that is well worth browsing at least.

Thanks for the link bananas.

[bananas]

2. kick. nt