BY SIA LING XIN

ENERGY demand is projected to jump by 76 per cent from 2007 to 2030 in South-east Asia, if current energy policies are not changed.

If unchecked, this will lead to severe climate change, warned Dr Richard Bradley, head of the energy efficiency and environment division at the International Energy Agency (IEA), yesterday.

The IEA is an intergovernmental organisation that advises member nations on energy policies.

Dr Bradley said that boosting energy efficiency was the way to go, starting by cutting carbon emissions.

Investments of S$14.5 trillion in technologies that deliver low or zero carbon emissions are needed by 2030, he said.

And each one-year delay in investing in such technologies will increase the amount by S$690 billion, he added.

He urged governments to introduce policies that would educate individuals and businesses on the benefits of such energy-efficient technology, and that would encourage them to switch to such technology.

Otherwise, adoption would be slow because businesses are often reluctant to get rid of expensive equipment even though they are outdated and inefficient, he said.

For example, eight in 10 of the power plants built in the United States since 1980 are still in operation. Some still burn coal and emit a lot of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.

People are also unaware of how seemingly insignificant actions on their part can affect the world, he said.

Worldwide, 91 power plants are needed to produce the energy for keeping appliances on standby mode, and this will increase to 105 by 2020.

On the upcoming negotiations on climate-change policies between world leaders in Copenhagen, he is optimistic that the deal will see actual results, as major economics like China are "coming forward and indicating their willingness to put that general framework (for carbon-emissions cuts) in place".

Dr Bradley was speaking to reporters yesterday, ahead of the two-day Sustainable Energy Conference, which he will also speak at.

The conference is held as part of EnviroAsia, a four-day event which begins today. The event is expected to draw about 7,000 visitors, with more than one in five of them from overseas.

lingxin@sph.com.sg

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