News & events

Seen from a global climate perspective the world is moving into the wrong direction. From 2010 to 2012 the demand for fossil fuels increased by 5%, the GHG emissions by 4.7%. By 2012, the world consumed 590 Mtoe more fossil fuels than 2010 and 118 Mtoe more renewables, 67 Mtoe of which was biomass. The growth rate of fossil fuels was 5 time bigger than that of RES. 

These figures are in plain contradiction to the dramatic reports on the status of the world’s climate published recently by the IPCC. Following the climate mitigation scenario of the IPCC the CO₂ emissions should be only a third of the world’s actual emissions in 2012.

In addition,

• In the year 2013, the governments of the powerful G20 countries spent US$78 billion to support the exploration of new oil and gas fields.
• Over the last months the oil price declined by 40%, a price decline that will trigger an additional increase in the use of fossil fuels and GHG emissions – unless proper government policies are implemented. 

These are alarming facts. Unless the governments of the countries, represented here in LIMA, start stronger efforts in the fight against climate change and in favour of the transition to renewable energies, the global efforts to comply with the 2°C target will fail.

According to an analysis of the IPCC reports, made by WBA, the world should increase the share of renewables in the global supply to more than 50% by 2035 and simultaneously reduce the combustion of fossil fuels by half, in order to comply with 2°C target.  

Regions and cities demonstrate that the transformation to a 100% renewable fuelled society is possible. The World Bioenergy Association reports here in LIMA about examples already realized:

• One example is a city with 170 000 inhabitants in central Europe (Pécs, Hungary)
• The other example a rural region with 30 000 inhabitants (district Murau, Austria).

In Pécs, the coal and gas fired boilers for district heat were completely replaced by two biomass boilers with a total capacity of 300MW based on wood and straw generating now all the electricity and Heat needed in the city.

The district of Murau is implementing a renewable energy and climate model, coordinated by a climate manager aiming to promote electricity from hydropower, photovoltaics, wind, biomass as well as heat from biomass and solar thermal and mobility based on electricity. IN 2013 the region produced 200% of the electricity needed with renewables, 70% of the heat needed and just started different projects of e-mobility. By 2020 also heat will be 100% renewable and transport will follow later.

Many communities, many cities countries could follow this examples based on the gained experiences.

What is needed?

• No subsidies, no tax reduction or other government support for fossil fuels instead of higher taxation of fossil fuels
• Reliable stable supportive government policies in favour of renewable energies, better  efficiency
• Awareness building, capacity building, training, financial support by governments
  
  

Bioenergy will be an important pillar of the future energy system in combination with a fast growth of wind and photovoltaics, hydro and geothermal.

Facing the increasing threats of climate change no other solutions makes sense!!!!

To download the press release, click here.