Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future

On Oct. 22, 2007, the InterAcademy Council released a new report, commissioned by the governments of Brazil and China, identifying and detailing the scientific consensus framework for directing global energy development. Lighting the way: Toward a sustainable energy future lays out the science, technology and policy roadmap for developing energy resources to drive economic growth in both developed and developing countries while also securing climate protection and global development goals.
 
For more information on the report, see the press release or the IAC's Lighting the way brochure and further background information. To view or download the full report, click here.

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An international teleconference was held Monday, October 22 at 2 PM GMT.for reporters to address questions to members of the IAC study panel that wrote the new report Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future. 

• Steven Chu (USA), study Co-chair; Nobel Laureate, Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory & Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
• José Goldemberg (Brazil), study Co-chair; Professor, Institute of Electrotechnics and Energy, University of São Paulo, former Secretary of State for the Environment for the State of São Paulo, Brazil 
• Ged Davis (UK), study panelist, Co-President, Global Energy Assessment, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) 
• Lu Yonglong (China), Director General, Bureau of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences 
• Sergio Machado Rezende (Brazil), Minister of Science and Technology for the government of Brazil 
• Moderator: Bruce Alberts (USA), Co-chair, InterAcademy Council, Past President, U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

The report was produced by a study panel of 15 world-renowned energy experts, co-chaired by Nobel Laureate Steven Chu, Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in the United States, and José Goldemberg, former Secretary of State for the Environment for the State of São Paulo, Brazil. See the complete list of panelists below.

The report’s findings and recommendations have been presented to the Chinese and Brazilian governments by Co-Chairs Chu and Goldemberg. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was briefed by Chu on Oct. 11 in Beijing. For more information on the meeting, click on the following links:

English news from the Chinese Academy of Sciences:
http://english.cas.ac.cn/eng2003/news/detailnewsb.asp?InfoNo=26798
Chinese-language news:
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2007-10/11/content_774328.htm

The Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology, Sergio Machado Rezende, was briefed by Goldemberg on Oct. 16 in Brasilia.

Lighting the way establishes the best practices for a global transition to a clean, affordable and sustainable energy supply in both developing and developed countries. The report addresses incentives that can accelerate the development of innovative solutions, provides recommendations for financial investments in research and development, and explores other transition pathways that can transform the landscape of energy supply and demand around the globe.

In addressing mitigation of the environmental impacts of energy generation and use, Lighting the way will inform global action on climate change, such as implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, agenda-setting for the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, and ongoing multinational talks on future global action to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Lighting the way also confronts the unequal access to energy experienced by the one-third of the world’s population without access to basic energy services, and makes recommendations for addressing this disparity as well as for promoting national and global energy security.

BACKGROUND

Launching the study. In February 2005, at the request of the Governments of China and Brazil, and with strong support from then-United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan, the InterAcademy Council Board decided to launch an in-depth study on how to achieve global transitions to an adequately affordable, sustainable, clean energy supply.

After appointing the panel—which includes experts from Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, the US and other nations—the IAC commissioned 19 reports to inform seven energy workshops held in 2005 and 2006. The report underwent an extensive, monitored peer review and incorporates the analysis and actions of leading global energy and development institutions, such as the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank and the International Energy Agency.

There are three key questions addressed in the study:

• How can we provide universal access to affordable, modern power?
• What is the most efficient way to address environmental costs?
• How can we establish energy security?

Preliminary Organizing Group.  The IAC Co-Chairs appointed an Organizing Group consisting of Drs. José Goldemberg (Chair), Shem Arungu Olende, Li Jinghai, Rob Socolow, Nebosja Nakicenovic, Mohamed El-Ashry, Rajendra Pachauri, and Michael Phelps.  This Organizing Group met in Amsterdam on 25-26 April 2005 and produced a brief report to the IAC Co-Chairs regarding the following aspects of the proposed study:

• Scope and content of the study (conceptual framework),
• Modality of study-associated workshops,
• Composition of the study panel, and
• Timeline and documentation of the study.

Commissioned Papers.  The Organizing Group advised the IAC to commission a total of 19 papers on various topics considered important for the study, as “intellectual start capital” for the Study Panel.  This advice was carried out; 16 papers were received and used as background/discussion material in workshops.

Study Panel.  Taking into consideration nominations from science and engineering academies and advice from the Organizing Group, the IAC Board formally approved in September 2005 a slate of candidates.  Fifteen persons were subsequently appointed to the Study Panel:
 

Two Study Panel Co-Chairs:

• Steven Chu (USA), Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory & Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
• José Goldemberg (Brazil), Professor of the University of São Paulo, Brazil
   

Thirteen Study Panel Members:

• Shem Arungu Olende (Kenya), Secretary-General, African Academy of Sciences & Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Queconsult Ltd.
• Ged Davis (UK), Co-President, Global Energy Assessment, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
• Mohamed El-Ashry (Egypt), Senior Fellow, UN Foundation
• Thomas B. Johansson (Sweden), Professor of Energy Systems Analysis and Director of the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University
• David Keith (Canada), Director, ISEEE Energy and Environmental Systems Group & Professor and Canada Research Chair in Energy and the Environment, University of Calgary
• Li Jinghai (China), Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Nebosja Nakicenovic (Austria), Professor of Energy Economics at Vienna University of Technology & Leader of Energy and Technology Programs at IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)
• Rajendra Pachauri (India), Director-General, The Energy and Resources Institute & Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007 Nobel Peace Prize Winner)
• Majid Shafie-Pour (Iran), Professor of Environmental Engineering (Energy, Air Pollution and Climate Change), Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran
• Evald Shpilrain (Russia), Professor of Thermophysics and Renewable Energy Sources, Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Advisor to the RAS
• Robert Socolow (USA), Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University
• Kenji Yamaji (Japan), Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Tokyo, Member of Science Council of Japan, Vice-Chair of IIASA Council & Chairman of the Green Power Certification Council of Japan
• Yan Luguang (China), Chairman of the Scientific Committee of Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Honorary President of Ningbo University

The work of the Study Panel was assisted by Jos van Renswoude, Study Director; Dilip Ahuja, Professor, Indian National Institute of Advanced Studies, as Special Advisor to the Study Panel; and Marika Tatsutani, writer and editor.

Academies Sponsor IAC Energy Workshops.  The Study Panel convened seven workshops—most hosted by national scientific academies— to obtain additional insights into energy issues facing different regions of the world. For more information on the workshops, click here.

Study Panel Meetings.  The first meeting of the full Study Panel was held during 31 January – 2 February 2006 in Amsterdam, coinciding with the 2006 Annual IAC Board Meeting. The second Study Panel meeting was held in Amsterdam during 24-25 June 2006 to review preliminary draft chapters and to further develop report texts.

Funding. Financial contributions for this study have been gratefully received from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Government of Brazil, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the Energy Foundation.