Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Encourage personal and industrial energy efficiency and conservation as the first step when attempting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This should not replace the implementation of renewable energy technologies, but instead supplement such initiatives.

Energy conservation through simple practices in daily life coupled with industrial energy efficiency can greatly reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions with immediate economic benefits. At this point, there are insufficient subsidies and loans given to support the practice of energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is, in many industries, the easiest and most economically efficient strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Significant monetary support should be given to ensure the widespread adoption of energy conservation and efficiency technologies across all sectors of the economy. This is the first step to realizing a viable clean energy market economy. However, governing bodies, utilities, and industry are failing to emphasize this.

Global energy demand is set to grow approximately 50-60% by 2030 unless significant effort is placed on increasing energy efficiency and reducing overall consumption. Energy efficiency needs to be viewed like any other energy source. The International Energy Agency estimates that without energy savings achieved between 1973 and 1998, energy consumption in OECD countries would have been nearly 50% higher. It is also estimated by the IEA that each dollar invested in energy efficiency generates more than $4 in savings, with a payback period of around four years.

'Negawatt power' is a term used to describe a way of supplying additional electrical energy to consumers without increased generation capacity by the creation of a market for trading of increased efficiency. An increase in available market supply is increased by utilizing consumption efficiency as opposed to increasing plant generation capacity. A market for the trade of negawatts should be established as a means to encourage the use of already available electrical generation potential through increased efficiency.

Establishing a market for the trade of negawatts may require enabling legislation and cooperation between primary producers, distributors, traders and consumers when these parties have conflicting interests. For instance generators income is commonly derived from selling electricity and their cash flow may be reduced by trade in efficiencies, however increasing supply by raising consumption efficiency is generally less expensive than building additional generating capacity.

Governments and industries should partner to identify potential areas energy efficient practices could be successfully implemented. Such technologies often require additional capital investments that is recovered through long term energy savings. Financial incentives should be provided to encourage and support a shift to the most cost-effective, energy-efficient, and sustainable technologies.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Discourage efforts to implement Carbon Capture and Storage technologies. Support further research into methods, but not at the expense of the development of sustainable renewable technology. The primary focus should be on shifting energy production methods.

Oceanic and geologic carbon capture and storage and is not a risk worth taking. The International Youth Declaration from Montreal 2005 emphasized that mechanisms must supplement, not substitute domestic emission reductions.

The solutions to climate change should be long-term and sustainable. Current research shows that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is not a plausible and sustainable long-term solution to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Additionally, the storage of greenhouse gas emissions requires complex tracking systems and imposes greater costs on governments and citizens. There are also long term liability issues that exist due to necessary long-term storage to prevent old reserves of carbon dioxide or other gases from escaping and offsetting the balance of GHG in the atmosphere. In order to reduce GHG emissions sustainably, the United Nations should not endorse CCS as an avenue to reduce GHG emissions in the post-2012 Kyoto Agreement.

Proponents of CCS claim that the process is more cost-effective than developing low-carbon alternatives. However, CCS is inadequate at addressing the critical issues associated with anthropogenic climate change: the need for clean, sustainable energy in every country coupled with efficiency and conservation. Furthermore, CCS requires power plants to increase their energy output by 10-40% thus increasing the need for fossil fuels and fueling our addiction to oil. CDM projects are supposed to foster sustainable development and technology transfer, and CCS does not meet such criteria.

CCS projects are an inadequate short-term solution. The IPCC report on CCS states clearly that "Although storage projects are now in operation and being carefully monitored, time is too short and overall monitoring too limited, to enable direct empirical conclusions about the long term performance of geological storage." CCS it imposes significant risk on future generations and should not be supported.

Urban Planning

Support sustainable urban planning as a means to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and foster sustainable development. Encourage transit-oriented development, energy efficient buildings, and responsible land use.

The impact of humans on the global climate is intimately linked to how and where we live. The United Nations recently reported that by 2008, over half the world's population will live in urban areas – a historically unprecedented proportion. Urban planning is of tremendous importance in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable development. There are three crucial elements of sustainable urban planning: transit-oriented development, energy-efficient buildings, and responsible land use to minimize marginal land degradation.

Urban vehicle use is of particular concern for climate sustainability. The transportation sector is responsible for roughly 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In congested urban areas, the fuel efficiency of most vehicles is low, increasing relative greenhouse gas emissions. One way to reduce transport-related greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas is to plan cities that maximize the use ofmass transit, a concept known as transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD fundamentally requires high building density. The sprawling suburban development common to North American cities is not transit-oriented – the places where people live, work, and play are often too far apart to practically link with mass transit. Instead, areas that are designed to be transit-oriented generally incorporate a mix of uses, including commercial, residential, and recreational spaces in close proximity. This high density encourages alternative modes of transport, such as walking or biking, and permits easy access to a mass transit system that connects the area with other parts of the city. The result is an urban layout that is much less carbon-intensive than one in which people depend on private cars as the primary means of transport.

The high density and mixed use that are so central to TOD are embodied in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Neighborhood standards. The LEED Neighborhood standards enable an urban development to get a number of "credits" by fulfilling certain criteria in four categories, including smart location in addition to neighborhood pattern and design. Credits specifically address greenhouse gas mitigation opportunities through the promotion of bike paths and the inclusion of energy-efficient buildings.

Energy-efficient construction is vital to reducing the carbon footprint of cities. In the United States, the LEED New Construction and Major Renovation standards are the recognized industry benchmarks for sustainable design. These standards work on the same basis as the LEED Neighborhood guidelines, offering credits in areas such as site selection, energy and atmosphere, and on-site power generation. In addition, LEED encourages the use of sustainably-sourced building materials and low-impact construction techniques.

Formal LEED certification may not be practicable on a large scale in many countries, due to the certification infrastructure required. However, traditional building practices in many parts of the world can still be used to minimize energy consumption and the carbon footprint of buildings, which in the United States account for up to 30% of all carbon dioxide emissions. As recent case study of this is from a project in India, which used biomass gassification, subterranean air tunnels, and extensive daylighting to meet LEED standards – all traditional features in local buildings. Traditional knowledge can be applied to modern standards for energy efficiency.

While reducing greenhouse gas emissions through promoting sustainable transport and construction, urban planning must also mitigate the existing impacts of climate change. In many parts of the world, informal housing (slum housing) is often located on land that is unsuitable for conventional building. This marginal land, including steep hillsides and floodplains, is frequently at greater risk to the effects of climate change. Increased heavy precipitation in some parts of the world can result in flooding and catastrophic mass movement along hillsides. In coastal zones sea level rise contributes to a greater risk of inundation during storm surges. Smart urban planning policies can alleviate the risks posed by informal settlement. In nations with well-developed institutional infrastructures, planning and zoning can be used to prevent construction on marginal land. In countries where this capacity is underdeveloped, alternative measures can be used to provide alternatives to informal settlement on marginal land. South Africa's Site and Service Scheme provides basic services to poorer city residents on designated plots of land, removing the need to construct informal settlements on marginal land. While the Scheme does not provide a viable long-term housing solution, it alleviates the strain placed on city services by rapid rural-urban migration and widespread urban poverty.

It must be recognized that urban planning is merely one component of comprehensive greenhouse gas mitigation and sustainability. As the human population grows increasingly urbanized, we will be challenged to an even greater extent to reduce the climate impact of our cities and lifestyles.

Power Generation

Promote the widespread adoption and implementation of sustainable renewable energy. This includes solar, wind, geothermal, and low impact hydroelectric power. It must be ensured that the implementation of any energy system is done with proper environmental safeguards. Nuclear power is not a sustainable energy source and should not be pursued.

Renewable energy is of vital importance and one of the most effective options to mitigate climate change. Aside from reducing our dependance on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy has the potential to alleviate poverty, further sustainable development, alleviate poverty, and enhance energy security. Solar, wind, geothermal, and low impact hydroelectric power projects should all receive significant support assuming environmental and social concerns are addressed. Nuclear power, though able to reduce greenhouse gases, is not sustainable and should not be supported.

In order to mitigate climate change, it is necessary to significantly reduce fossil fuel use. This will require a dramatic global shift to renewable energies in order to meet energy needs. Ambitious target dates should be set in which renewable energy will meet a certain percentage of the energy supply. Targets should be nation based and dependent on economic viability, the potential for international partnerships, and how quickly energy demand is expected to grow. Substantial economic incentives should be put in place for the deployment of renewable energy technologies over fossil fuel technologies. Financial support should also be allocated towards research that will help increase the efficiency of renewable energy technologies, thus making them more competitive.

Creating the right policy framework and showing a clear commitment to increasing renewable energy capacity will help attract widespread investment. According to research conducted by U.S. bank Morgan Stanley, revenue associated with renewable energy could reach $505 billion by 2020 and hit $1.02 trillion in 2030. However, governments must continue to take strong steps in promoting renewable energy and monetizing greenhouse gas emissions.

Current energy sources fail to meet human needs, specifically with regards economically disenfranchised peoples. Worldwide, 2.4 billion people rely on traditional biomass for cooking and 1.6 billion do not have access to electricity. This situation further entrenches poverty, leads to increased environmental degradation, constrains social services, limits opportunities for women, and has negative health effects. Access to sustainable clean energy will be crucial in combating the issue of poverty and allowing for sustainable development. This supports The Millennium Development Goals, as well as The World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The role and cost of energy services should be factored into overall national social and economic development strategies. However, any reforms to the energy sector should explicitly protect the poor and take inequalities into account when developing implementation strategies. Of the 47 poorest countries, 38 are net importers of oil – 25 of which import all of their oil. This imposes extreme economic risks due to recent increases and instability in oil prices. Rising prices have had a disproportionate impact on poor people who depend on kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas for basic cooking and heating. As such, governments have had to subsidize oil costs, reducing the availability of funds for public investment, such as education, health care, and environmental protection.

Decentralized energy generation should be promoted, based upon local needs and capacity. Decentralized energy allows for small-scale local power generation, providing electricity to rural areas as well as helping to reduce poverty. This form of energy allows for a sense of ownership and pride in villages, using local skills and resources to create a clean, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure. Without reliance on electrical or fuel supply line, decentralized renewable energy and local generation allows for self-sufficiency. This form of energy production also allows for increased energy efficiency, specifically through the use of combined heat and power (CHP). CHP involves using the waste heat generated from energy production for heating purposes, such as space or water heating. Efficiency is also improved through the close proximity of generation. Transporting energy over long distances, through a grid, creates transmission losses.

Significant emphasis needs to be placed on promoting renewable energy solutions. Transforming our energy infrastructure is a necessary step in mitigating climate change. Substantial investment should be immediately placed in solar, wind, and geothermal technologies. Nuclear should not be supported due to the environmental and safety issues associated with energy production.

Education

Encourage government-run national, regional, and local education programs on sustainability. Allow and encourage local community partnerships with NGOs and IGOs in sustainability education. In addition, foster an increased pubic awareness through the use of media and curriculum in formal education.

In order to garner acceptance and implementation of widespread sustainability, general education is essential. By facilitating fundamental knowledge of sustainable processes, the general public can become an integral resource for countries striving toward sustainable development. Through increased public knowledge, programs and policies regarding climate change can more effectively and efficiently be put into place. This is of specific importance for changes which will take place at the individual level, such as a change in consumptive patterns. Such knowledge should be provided through schools, the media, and other educational mediums.

It is of vital importance that lay people be involved in the process of climate adaptation and mitigation. More effort must be invested in the implementation of Article 6 of the UNFCCC. As article 6(a) states, Parties to the convention must “promote and facilitate... the development and implementation of programs for public awareness and education about climate change, access to information on climate change and its effects, public participation in addressing climate change, and the training of scientific, technical, and managerial personnel.” Article 6b(ii) recognizes the importance of implementing education, training, and public awareness activities, specifically in developing countries.

Elementary and secondary schools should be better facilitated as centers for sustainable energy practices across the globe. Pilot programs and micro-finance projects for sustainable energy methods should target schools and be integrated into the curriculum.Education on renewable energy and sustainable practices should begin as early as elementary school. Through this, youth will be exposed to renewable energy production and immersed in a positive environment valuing such sustainable solutions. This will greatly help in furthering strong public support for future projects on a larger scale.

Renewable energy can have direct impacts on education as well, providing schools with electricity, improving attendance, retaining teachers, and allowing for new forms of educational media. Providing renewable energy for cooking and heating can further help reduce the time that children spend out of school collecting fuel.

There is currently a lack of renewable energy awareness among rural village communities. It is important to mobilize such communities to help spur investment in small scale renewable energy projects. There are a variety of means that can help further this goal: traditional gatherings, folk theater, local publications, and utilizing the local governance or schooling structures are few examples. An emphasis in such situations should be placed on capacity building to help further village participation, especially from women and youth. This should occur through education and training programs focused on renewable energy, allowing for local skills to be utilized in project planning and implementation.

Addressing the issue of poverty and subsequent need for capacity building in developing countries is imperative in providing for the implementation of Article 6. In a majority of cases, developing countries are the most affected by climate change. As such, it is crucial that the COP make training of personnel, access to information, and civic participation a priority in addressing climate change.

A centralized database of information on sustainable energy practices should be developed to help facilitate a global exchange of knowledge. This should include statistics, methods, and case studies of energy projects. It should be globally available and integrate already existent local compilations of information on such topics. Providing access to information will allow educational campaigns to be much more effective.Local peoples should be engaged in gathering scientific data and advocating potential adaptation and mitigation strategies. An emphasis should be placed on education at the local level focused on the empowerment of communities and individuals. Such an approach is supported by the FCCC “as appropriate” in article 6(a). To help further local understanding of the climate issue, the IPCC needs to make its findings as clear and accessible as possible. The COP should help facilitate the dissemination of scientific and educational materials to a wide range of global stakeholders. Existing organizations and networks should be utilized to help strengthen such an information database.

It is in the fields of education, training, and public awareness that youth have the largest potential to create meaningful and successful change. The ability for youth to mobilize, outreach, inspire, and energize should be specifically utilized when addressing the issue of climate change. Providing for a strong foundation of knowledge in global citizens is a critical first step in the addressing climate change. Youth are committed to achieving this goal.