This message comes from the findings of a report to be published next month by the WEC and ADEME, the French environment agency.
Dr Christoph Frei, WEC Secretary General, says:
The report, “World Energy Perspectives: Energy Efficiency Policies”, reviews the latest energy intensity trends and analyses the policies in 85 countries representing more than 95% of global consumption. It finds that since 1990 energy productivity improvements have helped avoid 9.6 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions.
Dr François Moisan, Executive Director of Strategy at ADEME and Chair of the report, says: “The report finds that energy efficiency improvements over the last 20 years have resulted in significant energy savings. In 2011 these savings were equivalent to one-third of the global primary energy consumption.
“This is thanks to the energy efficiency policies and measures implemented in OECD countries, and which have spread to many others,” Dr Moisan adds.
Dr Frei comments: “While the progress highlighted in this report is encouraging, it is clearly not enough. We will need to develop new policies and strategies to meet the challenge of securing tomorrow’s energy today.”
WEC and ADEME will release the report next month, with its findings informing discussions at the World Energy Congress in Korea (13 to 17 October). The report’s key findings will be highlighted in a speech today at the Swiss Energy and Climate Summit in Bern.