IEA Discussion - Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map

The Center on Global Energy Policy at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs hosted a talk by Fatih Birol, the Chief Economist at the International Energy Agency.  This was followed by a panel which included remarks from Fred Krupp (EDF), David Sandalow (DOE) and Jason Bordoff (Columbia CGEP).  The focus was the recent IEA report titled Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map.

Some of the highlight's from Dr. Birol's talk:

• Climate change slipping from the global policy agenda, despite scientific evidence
• Canada has already ratified the measures recommended in the report
• Efficiency, often discounted, is making up a significant portion of carbon savings as well as institutional investment
• "If you say efficiency doesn't matter, you are really not getting your hands dirty with the data"
• Nuclear/CCS still facing significant challenges
• Global CO2 emissions +1.4% (31.6 Gt) in 2012
• CO2 emissions in Japan increased 6% (lower nuclear, more coal)
• China's increases were +3.8%, but this is the lowest Y/Y growth in nearly 2 decades
• US & China approximately 45% of total emissions
• Energy production and investment sectors acknowledging need to increase resilience to physical impacts
• Another goal in the report is to significantly reduce CH4

 4 Criteria to guide recommendations:

1.  No harm to individual country economic growth
2. Significant near-term CO2 reductions are imperative, but they should
3. Rely on implementing existing technologies
4. Realize ignificant benefits other than climate - improved health, productivity, alt energy sector growth, etc.

Thanks to Columbia for hosting this event.