Renewable Energy Technologies: Panacea for World Energy Security and Climate Change?

The rapid increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations in the last several decades has caused observable changes in global climate on all continents. Carbon dioxide, the primary causative agent of climate change has increased from long-term mean average of 275 ppm to the current level of 400 ppm. About 85% of the current global energy production and use is based or derived from fossil fuels. If there is no concerted action by the global community, CO2 levels could increase by 130% by mid century resulting in large-scale climate changes such as the disintegration of the West Antarctic ice sheet, large-scale coral reef bleaching, and shutdown of the ocean circulation system. Stabilization of CO2 levels will require a deceleration in the rate of increase in fossil fuel consumption, and the use of emission-free power sources in the immediate future. The former can have immediate ameliorative effects, whereas the latter will require substantial investment in research and development to find and implement innovative technologies. However there are limits to technological solutions to sustainable development. Renewable energy technologies and low-carbon emission technologies will have material and environmental constraints with as yet undetermined consequences. In addition to technological solutions, it is important to develop needed social and political infrastructure to decrease future energy demand by controlling population growth and energy intensity. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Elhadi M. Shakshuki.