For governments, having a clear assessment of resource constraints and ecological risks they face, as well as a sound understanding of sectors of their economies that offer the largest potential for green growth, employment creation and efficiency gains, while securing public support, are critical to orient public policy. UNEP’s green economy advisory services are geared towards providing tailored support to countries for them to take appropriate responses.
The future of renewable energy is fundamentally a choice, not a foregone conclusion given technology and economic trends, according to this report. It examines the future of renewable energy in the context of: total energy share by sector; integration between utilities, buildings, industry and transportation; business models and investment; urban planning; national and regional policy; and technology, cost and market growth. The report is based on the opinions of 170 leading experts and the projections of 50 recently published scenarios. It finds a wide range of expert projections of the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2050, with low estimates below 20 per cent to high estimates upwards of 50-95 per cent. Experts predicted that the expansion of renewable will accelerate through 2020, particularly in leading developing countries such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand.
This report includes case studies on market growth and policy support for the European Union, the United States, Japan, China and India.
Albania’s energy consumption per capita and its CO2 emissions per capita are low, but due to outdated technologies in many sectors energy intensity is still high. Concerning energy supply, the share of renewable energy sources has contributed about 18–22 per cent of the primary energy balance, but the main role has been played by oil products, electricity, fuel woods and LPG.
Although Albania has a relatively comprehensive legislative framework governing energy politics and climate change comprising a wide range of topics, it still lacks legislation in some areas (energy conservation, renewable energy). The most important document for green growth is the (updated) National Energy Strategy. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration (MoEFWA), is the government body responsible for environmental issues and policy.
The long-term vision of the High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability is to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and make growth inclusive, and production and consumption more sustainable, while combating climate change and respecting a range of other planetary boundaries. This report makes a range of recommendations to take forward the Panel’s vision for a sustainable planet, a just society and a growing economy by concentrating on empowerment, strengthening institutional governance and working towards a sustainable economy.
This summary was prepared by Eldis.
