The energy efficiency for the sake of continuity in the future
The growing global concern about the future of our planet has established an important point about the questioning of current patterns of energy production and consumption.
The challenge to this pattern is mainly due to energy resources are limited and found in certain parts of the world, to use this current pattern is causing serious health effects on humans and the environment.
Thus, nowadays we need to ensure energy security, we need to control pollution caused by burning fuels and minimize the greenhouse effect caused by the emission of atmospheric gases [GHG]. Every day we damage our climate by using fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) in transport, industry and produce electricity. Power generation from these fuels generate 61% of worldwide total of greenhouse gases.
In addition, there are other challenges that have become urgent. World energy demand is growing at a rapid pace. Not only countries like China are increasingly demanding more energy. Over-reliance on energy imports from a few countries, generating instability and insecurity in the supply and prices of oil and gas steadily increasing have placed energy security as a concern in the political agendas of governments worldwide.
Climate change is already affecting our lives and is expected to destroy the livelihood of many people in developing countries, many ecosystems and species in the coming decades. For this reason we must drastically reduce our GHG emissions, an important measure both from the standpoint of environmental, social and economic.
It was found that the average global temperature has been increased during the twentieth century of 0.6 + – 0.2 ° C, plus there is a real reduction in arctic ice cover and increased the frequency and intensity of so-called natural disasters such as hurricanes, droughts and torrential rains. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), the forum of experts from the United Nations, is expected to increase in global temperature over the next 100 years of 5.8 ° Celsius, an increase much faster than experienced so now in the history of mankind. Facing this situation there is a growing consensus not to exceed 2 ° C increase in global temperature over pre-industrial era. To an increase of 2 ° C and above will be a dramatic increase in damage to ecosystems resulting social and natural disasters.
These facts have led in recent times is to sign a series of political commitments that are committed to achieving a sustainable development model: UN Summits in Rio de Janeiro (1992) and Johannesburg (2002), Kyoto Protocol adopted in the Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations in 1997 and ratified in February 2005, Millennium Declaration (2 000), and Plan of Action dela Bonn Conference for Renewable Energies in June 2004.
Among scientists there is a consensus that a fundamental change in the patterns of energy production and consumption should begin soon. We need a complete transformation in the way of generating, distributing and consuming energy. Only an energy revolution will allow us to limit global warming below 2 ° Celsius, a revolution that generates a reduction in global GHG emissions 50% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels.