The climate policies the world urgently needs
Tackling climate change means rapidly changing the way we generate and use energy. PACT aims to help lawmakers and advocates to envisage and implement laws and policies that effectively protect the climate. The two main areas of our work so far are Feed-In Tariffs and Energy Efficiency.
Renewable energy policies
Feed-In Tariff (FIT) laws have proved the best approach for accelerating the deployment of renewables in the electricity sector. FITs are a crucial element of the policy framework for promoting renewable energy. This section of the site aims to help users around the world to introduce or improve FIT laws in their country or region.
Policies for energy efficiency
A strategy that emphasises energy efficiency is the most economically and environmentally sensible way of providing energy for sustainable development and avoiding dangerous climate change. This section aims to help users finding policies to make energy use more sustainable and achieve an overall reduction of energy consumption.
The energy and climate crisis
The world’s energy consumption faces serious challenges. Based on 85% fossil fuels, the current energy consumption patterns, in particular in the developing world, accelerate the climate change crisis. Moreover fossil resources are fading out and energy shortages, economic instability and geostrategic disputes will increase. Both problems, threaten the living conditions of future generations. Today, we are still in the position to solve the energy and climate crisis, but the window of opportunity is closing. Even Fatih Birol, chief economist of the IEA, warned “we have to leave oil, before oil leaves us” (Guardian, 3 August 2009). Read more about climate change ...
To see in real time how many tonnes of carbon we are emitting, how many we still can emit without crossing the 2ºC threshold, and by how much percent we must reduce our emissions to achieve this ceiling, go to the Trilliothtonne.org.
Shaping our Future:
Creating the World Future CouncilBy Jakob von Uexkull and Herbert Girardet
ISBN: 1 903998 46 8
Publisher: Green Books / World Future Council Initiative
Date: June 2005 (Revised and Expanded Edition)
Price: Free to download here
As a result of rampant materialism, consumerism and a very narrow view of the world, we have created a profoundly unsustainable civilisation which is effectively a world without a future. Shaping Our Future was the first attempt to define the need for, and structure of, The World Future Council. First published in 2004 with the title Creating The World Future Council this book outlines the original vision of the WFC, set up to challenge this situation.
Creating the World Future CouncilBy Jakob von Uexkull and Herbert Girardet
ISBN: 1 903998 46 8
Publisher: Green Books / World Future Council Initiative
Date: June 2005 (Revised and Expanded Edition)
Price: Free to download here
As a result of rampant materialism, consumerism and a very narrow view of the world, we have created a profoundly unsustainable civilisation which is effectively a world without a future. Shaping Our Future was the first attempt to define the need for, and structure of, The World Future Council. First published in 2004 with the title Creating The World Future Council this book outlines the original vision of the WFC, set up to challenge this situation.
WFC booklet: Feed-in Tariffs - Boosting Energy for our Future
The World Future Council regards the Feed-in tariff system as the most effective available policy to increase the deployment of renewable energy. The booklet argues that renewable energy can meet our energy needs and create economic opportunities. It explains how a FIT works and provides information on the success of the German FIT law.
Download the WFC Guide to this successful policy here
WFC Booklet: Energy Sufficiency - Eight Policies towards the Sustainable Use of Energy. October 2009.
Energy Sufficiency aims to deliver energy services more efficiently, whilst also changing energy consumption behaviour to reduce overall demand. At the same time, equitable access to energy must be facilitated. The booklet presents eight proven and effective policies to help make the world more sufficient:
- Energy audits for existing buildings
- Phasing out of incandescent light bulbs
- Energy performance contracting
- Incentivising CHP
- The "Top Runner" programme
- Carbon-negative cooking
- Smart metering
- Area road pricing
- Energy audits for existing buildings
- Phasing out of incandescent light bulbs
- Energy performance contracting
- Incentivising CHP
- The "Top Runner" programme
- Carbon-negative cooking
- Smart metering
- Area road pricing
Download the WFC booklet here.
A Renewable World. Energy, Ecology, Equality.By Herbert Girardet and Miguel Mendonça
ISBN: 978-1900322492
Publisher: Green Books
Date: September 2009
Price: £14.95 (order your copy here or click here for free download)
ISBN: 978-1900322492
Publisher: Green Books
Date: September 2009
Price: £14.95 (order your copy here or click here for free download)
The post-Copenhagen world requires a fresh look at the big picture. In the absence of international agreements, what steps can be taken nationally, regionally and locally to reduce both carbon emissions and carbon concentrations? The former can be achieved through a transformation in energy production, saving and use, and the latter through biological carbon sequestration. This book sets out examples of these strategies, in policy and practice, from around the world. In addition, the essential question of the active participation of all sectors of society in this transformation is considered through examples of existing initiatives, and the wider issue of democratic reform.
A Renewable World was developed in conjunction with dozens of world experts and features solutions on renewable energy, biosequestration, energy sufficiency, energy for developing countries, green collar jobs, cities, transport, agriculture and food, regional economies, and civil participation and democracy. It seeks to clarify what can be done, and how we can all benefit, long into the future.
