ENERGY POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

ENERGY POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
BAHARUDIN BIN YATIM
Puri Pujangga
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
National University of Malaysia
16TH June 2014
7th Asian School on Renewable Energy
SCHOOL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

Baharudin Bin Yatim
7th Asian School on Renewable Energy, Puri Pujangga UKM, Malaysia, 16th-20th June 2014
Lecture Content
• What is Policy?
• Why create a Policy?
• How to make a Policy?
• What is Sustainability?
• How does Energy Use Impact Sustainability?
• What is Climate Change?
• How does Energy Use Contribute to Climate Change?
• The Energy Challenge?
• Some thoughts on the Way Forward
2

Baharudin Bin Yatim
DEFINITION OF POLICY
• Statement of our desire
• Guide for our actions
• What to do
• Who is to do it
• How is it to be done
• For whom is it done
3

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Policy is a Guide for Action
• The policy:
• States an intention to do something
• Outlines the rules
• Provides principles that guide actions
• Sets roles and responsibilities
• Reflects values and beliefs
• Monitors progress
4

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Why Create or Change a Policy
• Basic needs are not being met
• People have been treated unfairly
• Current policies or laws are not enforced or
effective
• Proposed changes in policies and laws would be
harmful
• Existing or emerging conditions pose a threat to
public health, safety, education or well-being
5

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Making a Public Policy
Identification
of the
Problem
Set the
objectives or
outcomes
Plan the
strategies
Obtain Legal
Mandate
Establish a
Task Force
6

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Policy Tools
• Methods for implementing a Policy:
7
Information Education
Legislation Regulation
Guidelines Standards
Procedures Programs
Grants Subsidies
Expenditures Taxes
Public Ownership

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Policy Tools (Malaysia)
Policy
Tools
Acts,
Ordinances,
Enactments
Administrative
Circulars
General
Orders,
Treasury
Instructions
Program
Strategies,
Project Plans
8

Baharudin Bin Yatim
7th Asian School on Renewable Energy, Puri Pujangga UKM, Malaysia, 16th-20th June 2014 9
SUSTAINABILITY
Energy Sustainability issues:
• What is “sustainability?”
• How does energy use impact sustainability?
• What are the problems with present energy use?
• What are global challenges for the future of
energy use?

Baharudin Bin Yatim
What is Sustainability?
• The ability of humanity to ensure that it meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs [Bruntland, 1987]
• Preservation of productive capacity for the foreseeable future [Solow, 1992]
• Biophysical sustainability means maintaining or improving the integrity of
the life support system of earth [Fuwa, 1995]
• A dynamic harmony between the equitable availability of energy-intensive
goods and services to all people and the preservation of the earth for future
generations [Tester, et al. 2005]
• We can simply say: Not running out of things and not harming anything
10

Baharudin Bin Yatim
The Three Dimensions of Sustainability
Economy
Social
Development
Trade-Offs
And
Synergies
Environment
11

Baharudin Bin Yatim
How Does Energy Use Impact Sustainability
• Some Benefits:
Energy is critical to human survival and development
Fossil fuels are plentiful and convenient to use
Energy is key to industrialization and transportation
Energy facilitates economic growth and globalization
• Some Problems:
Rapid growth in fossil fuel use raises concerns about:
Security of supply (over-dependence?)
Environmental impacts
Societal conflicts over inequitable distribution of resources
Depletion of critical resources
12

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Energy Sources, Conversion and Use
13
OTEC

Baharudin Bin Yatim
What are the Problems with the Present use of Energy?
14

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Climate Change Concerns
• Global energy demand is growing and over 80% of primary energy is
supplied by fossil fuel today
• Combustion of fossil fuel generates greenhouse gases –predominately
CO2–that can lead to global warming and associated impacts (melting of
glaciers and polar ice, sea level rise, changes in local rainfall and climates,
increases in storm severity, impacts on biosphere and agriculture, changes
in ocean circulation, etc.)
• Methane, CH4, is also a GHG and reaches the atmosphere through
agricultural activities and leakage
• There is no real replacement for fossil fuels (in the short term)
15

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Economic Impacts and Costs
• Cost associated with unabated climate change are estimated to be at least 5%
of GDP/year.
• Other impacts such as economic impact on human life and the environment
could raise the estimate to 20% of GDP/year or more.
• Each tonne of CO2 emitted now causes damage worth at least US$ 85.
• Many emissions reduction opportunities available now cost less than US$ 25
per tonne of CO2.
• Tackling climate change soon is a long term growth path.
• Inaction will ultimately undermine economic growth.
(Stern Review Report, 2006)
16

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Policy Changes for Effective Response
• Stern Report Recommends:
• Carbon pricing (taxation, emission trading, regulation) to build a common
global carbon price that includes full social cost of use.
• Technology policy to drive development and large-scale deployment of low-
carbon and high efficiency products.
• Policies that remove barriers to energy efficiency, and
• Inform, educate and persuade individuals on they can do to bring the change.
So: Need consistent global policy with long-term goals and strong framework for
international cooperation – Kyoto Protocol, GEF
17

Baharudin Bin Yatim
The Energy Challenge
• If we have to change our energy technologies
over a relatively short period of time, where are
the best alternatives?
• How should we invest in developing better
alternatives?
• What are the drivers that will encourage timely
development and market penetration of these
technologies?
18

Baharudin Bin Yatim
• Gaming –Wait for the “other guy:”
• Developed countries go first; Kyoto modest start
• Each country wishes to preserve or improve economic status
• US administration backed away from the Kyoto Protocol and looks
to a variety of voluntary initiatives
• Result – UNFCC is tied down
• BUT: Evidence of climate change is increasing and public
awareness is rising, even in the US
19

Baharudin Bin Yatim
• As populations and incomes grow, so does the demand for energy. Our thirst
for energy services is one of the biggest challenges to mitigating climate
change and building a greener future. While the global community wrestles
with climate change, it must also grapple with a host of issues resulting from
current patterns of energy consumption, including energy security, pollution,
and enduring energy poverty. The current fossil fuel-heavy energy system is
not only environmentally unsustainable, but also highly inequitable, leaving
some 1.4 billion people without access to electricity. Moreover, much of this
growing energy demand is occurring in developing countries, where rising
fossil fuel prices and resources constraints are putting additional pressure on
the environment and the economy.
UNEP
20

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Consequences of Inaction
Climate change:
–Shifting regional weather patterns impacting ecosystems, agriculture, water,
storms, floods, etc.
–Impacts of warming about double the average at the poles
–Most human impact on the poor –wealthy countries can better afford mitigation
Poverty:
–Subhuman living conditions for many; ill-health, addiction, crime, mass
migration, etc.
–Loss of human capital and environmental degradation
Major societal inequities:
–Economic conflicts and disruptions
–Institutional instabilities
–“Fortress World”for the rich?
- *Terrorism? Wars?
21

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Points to Ponder
• There is no right or wrong –it is a matter of balance
• Each one may contribute in a different way
• Selfishness and materialism are OK in moderation, but may block other
rewarding human values like being of service to others, feeling part of a
community, self respect, love, and compassion
• We can only control our behavior –not other people’s (though it is possible to
be an example)
22

Baharudin Bin Yatim
What is its Worth
 Perhaps a better quality of life with enough to meet our needs –not our wants!
 A different business paradigm –not mass production, but life cycle service
production with careful regard for externalities
 Greatly reduced social inequity and improved societal stability
 Appreciation and care for nature and diversity, both human and environmental
 A balance between self-care and the good feeling from giving our share as part
of a healthy community and world
23

Baharudin Bin Yatim
Ask what we can do
 In our daily living?
 In choosing careers?
 In our professional lives?
 As private citizens?
 As national citizens?
 As global citizens?
 How much are we willing to do for the future of the human species on this
earth?
24

Baharudin Bin Yatim
THANK YOU
HAVE A NICE DAY
25

ENERGY POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (10)

Similar to ENERGY POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Similar to ENERGY POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

ENERGY POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT