Research
Towards a Low-Carbon Energy Sector
Alarming UNFCCC reports, Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth", Hurricane Katrina: these are just a few examples of the many events that have recently drawn the world's attention to the dangers and urgency of the climate change problem. The present fossil fuel-based global energy sector, with its huge CO2 emissions, is one of the key causes of global warming, and there is growing international consensus that a transition to a low-carbon energy sector within several decades is an inevitable imperative. However, this is where international consensus stops, and even here more scientific clarification is needed to remove remaining doubts.
The Clingendael International Energy Programme (CIEP) is not involved with climate change science as such, but rather aims to examine the international political and economic drivers and consequences of the envisaged global energy transition. Questions relevant to CIEP's research into energy transition are, for instance: What does a low-carbon energy transition mean for international relations with and between oil and gas producing countries? What are the links between countries' negotiating positions on climate change issues and the structures of their energy sectors? and How will the development of new energy technologies in the fields of renewables and energy efficiency affect existing energy relations between countries?
There is much more to a global energy transition than climate change alone. At present and predicted future energy demand levels, the eventual depletion of fossil fuels is certain. Nevertheless, its exact timing and international consequences are still being heavily debated. How many new reserves will be found? Will global demand for energy continue to grow? Will the depletion of fossil fuels coincide with international climate change measures or not, and how will this affect international relations? These questions, as well, are relevant to CIEP's research into a global energy transition.
Furthermore, much of the world's population is still dependent on traditional energy sources such as firewood, charcoal and dung and does not have access to 'modern' energy sources. It is CIEP's belief that, in the realisation of a sustainable low-carbon energy sector, the question of access to energy is as crucial as that of how to mitigate global climate change. After all, access to energy and poverty are closely related, and growing inequalities in access to energy will likely put heavy pressure on future international relations. Therefore, CIEP also wishes to explore the relations between access to energy and a global transition towards a low-carbon energy sector.
CIEP's research theme "Towards a low-carbon energy sector" is structured into two key areas:
In support of ongoing research in this theme, CIEP organises two longer-running series of activities:
- CIEP Future Fuels Seminar Series
- Discussion group "Global Energy Transition and International Politics" (GETIP Group)