CHANGE IN WORLD CLIMATE IS REASON TO DEVELOP NEW ENERGY SOURCES, COMMITTEE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY IS TOLD
One of the strongest justifications for developing new and renewable energy sources related to climate-change issues, a representative of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) told the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development this afternoon. The WMO was involved in preparing an integrated proposal for a new international climate agenda. That agenda would include a critical review of current programs, including energy programs, and would identify needs for inter-agency coordination.
The recommendations of the first session of the Committee had been incorporated into the programs of the WMO, he said. That applied, in particular, to the matters concerning energy conservation and to implementing the Committee's recommendations on capacity-building. Also this morning, representatives of the International Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported on that body's activities. They said the Agency was a global network which aimed at responding to the global challenge posed by the emission of greenhouse gases. A recent Agency book on biofuels found that although such fuels could significantly reduce greenhouse emissions, their costs were not in line with those of petrochemical fuels.
They said the Agency followed national programs relating to climate change and would soon make available a study on greenhouse gas emissions in relation to upgraded conventional energy production and substitution of energy sources. Agency projects dealing with such renewable energy sources as solar energy, photovoltaic systems, hydroelectric energy and geothermal energy were open both to OECD and non-OECD countries. Taking part in the discussion were the experts from the Russian Federation and the Netherlands, as well as a representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Statements
LARS E. OLSSON, of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said the WMO had been using the recommendations of the first session of the Committee, particularly with regard to energy conservation. The WMO was engaged in resource assessment, particularly with regard to wind and solar energy. It was also engaged in several projects and training workshops related to implementation of the Committee's capacity-building recommendations.
He said the organization was working closely with its national counterpart meteorological bodies. Energy was one of the three key areas of interest of the WMO's world climate program. One of the strongest justifications for developing new and renewable energy sources related to climate-change issues. The Framework Convention on Climate Change aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, in a manner that would allow sustainable economic development.
The WMO was directly involved with the Commission on Sustainable Development and was task manager on the question of combating desertification and drought, he said. He drew attention to a project which aimed at developing data and methodologies on different energy sources. The results of that project could be used not only for environmental impact assessment and comparisons, but also for economic and technical feasibility comparisons.
He said the WMO was coordinating efforts on the development of operational climate prediction services which might be of particular interest to the energy sector. Together with several other United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations, the WMO was preparing an integrated proposal for a new international climate agenda. It consisted of a critical review of current programs, including energy programs, and identified needs for inter-agency coordination.
The Committee's special session should consider how the WMO's ongoing and planned programs could best serve the interests of the energy sector in general, and in developing countries in particular. It may wish to endorse the WMO's activities aimed at capacity-building. Any recommendation of the Committee would be given serious consideration by the WMO in the planning of its activities.
DMITRI B. VOLKBERG, expert from the Russian Federation, said he was not satisfied with the information that had been provided on the question of climate change. The energy industry was one of the main producers of carbon dioxide. However, there were other considerations which were not being addressed by the WMO. While much attention was given to the effects of carbon dioxide on the climate, very little attention was given to the economic aspects of the situation. For example, the United States, Canada and Russia could benefit from the climate change, he said. There must be a serious economic analysis of the problem, evaluating both sides of the issue. Why was carbon dioxide seen as having a purely negative effect on the climate?
Mr. OLSSON, of the WMO, said the Framework Convention had been ratified by the United States, Russia and Canada, and actions were now being discussed within the parameters of that Convention. The economic implications of the Convention were being discussed in a working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
WILHELMUS C. TURKENBURG, expert from the Netherlands, asked about any studies which were being undertaken on the matter.
Mr. OLSSON said studies were being undertaken on the consequences of resource management. The impact of climate change activities on the energy sector was also being reviewed.
GUSTAVO BEST, a representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said that, in regard to biomass for energy, his organization had studied the effects of carbon dioxide gas on plant growth. Some findings suggested that an increase in carbon dioxide at levels below those that were harmful to people, benefited plant growth.
JOHN TILLEY, of the International Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said his Agency was a sister organization of the OECD. The Agency's charter focused on energy and energy-related matters. Its experience was in the field of evaluating energy development. Its work on energy consumption and production, and on renewable energy, would be relevant to the Committee's work.
LEE SOLSBERY, of the Energy and Environment Division of the International Energy Agency, told Committee experts about two recent books: Biofuels, which discussed a study dealing with biofuels; and Cars and Climate Change, which compared the greenhouse-gas emissions of a number of fuels. He said the study on biofuels had found that although biofuels could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, biofuel costs were not yet in line with those of petrochemical fuels.
In connection with the Convention on Climate Change, he said the Agency followed many national programs dealing with climate change. One study, soon to be available, dealt with greenhouse gas emissions in relation to upgraded conventional energy production and substitution of energy sources.
In the area of technology development and diffusion, the Agency sought to understand the impact of renewable energy sources on the country, he said. Many of its projects dealt with solar energy, photovoltaic systems, hydroelectric energy and geothermal energy. Information collected by the Agency was available to both OECD and non-OECD countries.
Mr. VOLKBERG, from the Russian Federation, said last year an agreement for cooperation in the energy field had been signed between the Agency and the Russian Federation and the Agency had decided to publish a survey of the Russian energy situation. He asked the representatives of the Agency to suggest other areas that might be relevant to the Committee's work.
MR. TILLEY, said his Agency's agreement with the Russian Federation had already resulted in collaboration in the area of high-temperature energy research. He suggested that informal discussions with Committee members might establish what information would be relevant to the Committee's work.
