Climate Change
Global energy demand could increase by well over 50% by 2030 (World Energy Outlook 2007) . But with the world still reliant on fossil fuels, it’s more than just depletion of these finite sources that has become a global issue.
Our burning of fossil fuels to make power and energy is actually starting to change the composition of the atmosphere, affecting our climate system. This poses an immense threat to the world in which we live.
The Greenhouse effect
By burning fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas we are releasing more and more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Naturally-occurring greenhouse gases are essential as they absorb a proportion of heat from the sun and keep the earth warm. Without these, the temperature on Earth would be around minus 18˚C.
However, since the Industrial Revolution our unfettered burning of fossil fuels has resulted in more natural gases being released into the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide.
This enhances the atmosphere’s ability to trap heat energy radiating from Earth. This is leading to an increase in the average surface temperature of the planet – known as global warming.
The burning issue
Evidence of global warming has already been recorded in the UK:
sea surface temperatures around the UK coast have risen by about 0.7˚C over the past three decades
central England temperatures have risen by about 1˚C since the 1970s
(Source: UKCIP08: The climate of the United Kingdom and recent trends)
The effects of global warming and climate change are also being felt around the globe:
sea levels are rising
arctic sea ice is thinning
glaciers are melting
rainfall is becoming heavier in some parts of the world
weather patterns are changing (heat waves, droughts, storms and floods)
UK emissions
Factors such as population growth and lifestyle changes have fuelled the UK’s dependency on fossil fuels with some of the following results:
The UK is currently responsible for 3 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions – despite having only 1 per cent of the world’s population
Over a third (54 million tonnes) of CO2 emitted in the UK comes from the energy industries (the largest single contributors)
In 2005, just 4.2% of the UK's electricity supply came from renewable energy sources (DTI)
A sustainable future
There is now a general scientific consensus that temperature rises are due to human activities rather than natural changes in our environment.
Our huge demand for energy is depleting our indigenous supplies of oil, coal and gas. This increasing need to import more fuel is leading to concerns over security of supply.
The UK is also subject to increasing fuel-price volatility as we become more exposed to world market fluctuations. This means that UK businesses are facing the prospect of interruptions in energy supply and continued uncertainty over its costs. These risks present potential barriers to future business growth.
For these reasons, renewable energy is becoming more attractive from both an economic and strategic viewpoint.