World Powers to Come Together for Energy

Max Boath - Contributing Writer
Posted on Thursday 4th June 2009

For the first time ever, world energy leaders are coming together for the advancement energy efficiency. The largest economic powers—including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, and Russia, together with China, South Korea, India, Brazil, and Mexico—signed the official partnership last week at the G8 Energy Ministers Meeting in Rome. There are several agencies that already exchange international advice, but the new International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) aspires to build global collaboration at the policy-making level. The IPEEC plans to tackle the energy crisis first and foremost, as this is the cheapest and most effective way to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

First along its agenda, the IPEEC will try to inventory each country’s current energy system. This is not easy to do, for many standards and technologies are unique to each country and there is no universal measurement. Once measurements have been taken, the partnership plans on sharing ideas about universal standards, practices, codes, and labels. They will also focus on building consumer awareness and joining together in large-scale projects.

One of the biggest sectors of the partnership is on buildings. Buildings consume around 30-40% of energy consumption worldwide, and more energy-efficient buildings could reduce climate change and improve indoor and outdoor quality. But without proper funding and technology, countries will not be able to improve their economic worth, which is a difficult starting point considering the large poverty gap in much of the world.

Other policy examples include energy-efficiency certificates that allow for trades between industries that can and cannot meet cutback mandates, and public-private arrangements with energy service companies, which allow clients to cut energy costs for free in return for the saved energy. The IPEEC feels that energy efficiency is a global priority, and the best way to ensure success is through cooperation and the sharing of best strategies.

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