Plan A has failed and planet B does not exist – time for plan C?

Panel: 3. Local action

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Lotta Bångens, Swedish Energy Efficiency Suppliers Association, Sweden
Hans Nilsson, FourFact AB, Sweden

Abstract

The process leading up to the energy efficiency directive illustrates very well that the national states have given up all aspirations in dealing with the energy efficiency issues properly. The problem is global and we see it also in other situations where high-level negotiations are used in attempts to make participating nations undertake measures to save the climate.

The IEA has continuously and gradually more insistently pointed at the necessity of improving energy efficiency on the demand side. Seemingly however with little result. Energy ministers claim on one hand that the world economy will suffer if energy use is reduced. Environment ministers look under all stones to find arguments that natural gas (i.e. shale gas) at least is acceptable. Finance ministers remain convinced that if energy efficiency is as good as we say the market will deliver.

This in spite of overwhelming evidence that there is a huge and growing cost-efficient potential to use less energy. There is “a free lunch that you are paid to eat” it is however not served. We have to help with the cooking.

The government(s) will not be very helpful in doing so. We have to do it ourselves locally and in co-operation. On a community level there are plenty of activities and many municipalities have shown the way forward. The process is already underway but need to be multiplied.

Plan C (communities) need to be elaborated. Technology development helps by miniaturisation of distributed generation supplying energy efficient installations delivered by companies that embrace new business-models where the quality efficiency takes precedence over the narrow technology perspective.

This paper will explore how and by whom new business models can be generated and applied in local communities both by the formal ones (municipalities) and the “civil society” to exploit the local resources and the local initiatives.