Using already-available technology, solar power alone could provide almost four times the world's current energy use; wind or geo-thermal power each could exceed today's energy use. Yet, 80% of our energy still comes from burning fossil fuels that increase CO2 concentrations - triggering climate chaos, disrupting nature, and further concentrating wealth. The "convenient truth" is that we can choose  abundant, renewable energies instead, that can meet our needs more safely and help to decentralise power.

Our goal is to accelerate the introduction and implementation of effective renewable energy legislation worldwide. To this end, the World Future Council continues to provide expert support to policymakers keen to introduce renewable energy legislation.

Building on our efforts that sparked new renewable energy laws in South
Australia, the UK and an increasing number of US States, the challenge today is supporting policymakers in other regions to introduce similarly effective laws. To promote renewable energies in grid-connected countries and in non grid-connected rural areas, the WFC

• organises strategy workshops with stakeholders in Africa, Europe and the US combined with direct advocacy for renewable energy
  
  
• drafts reports highlighting the potential climate and economic gains of an accelerated switch to renewable energy
  
  
• organises parliamentary hearings in Asia and Africa in cooperation with e-Parliament, a global network of parliamentarians, to develop detailed policy proposals
  
  
• has developed the online Policy Action on Climate Toolkit that provides all relevant information for the successful adoption and implementation of renewable energy legislation comprising Feed-In Tariff policy

Networking for renewables: meeting the EU's renewable energy targets
Today’s fossil fuel and nuclear based energy system brings the resource to the power plant, but as the share of renewable energies increases, we will need to get used to the idea of taking the power plant to the resource. Much of the challenge of building a sustainable, geopolitically secure and cost effective energy system will fall on Europe’s aged and nationally focused electricity networks. We now need a fresh, forward looking approach. Read the full policy paper.

WFC advises World Bank Group on energy policy
WFC US Director Randy Hayes presented the World Future Council’s energy strategy recommendations at an Energy Strategy Consultation Meeting by the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C. on March 5, 2010. Katherine Sierra, Vice President Sustainable Development, and Jamal Saghir, Director Energy Transport and Water Department, spoke on behalf of the World Bank Group about the Energy Strategy Approach next to Johannes Linn, Director Wolfensohn Center for Development, who facilitated the session. Randy Hayes’ recommendations mainly related to how feed-in tariffs could contribute to the energy strategy and to how the World Bank Group should be promoting new technology and/or helping to transfer existing technologies to new markets, and how much weight should be given to each (- consultation question #5).

The World Future Council is working towards a fundamental change in society from resource wasting to resource saving. Progress towards energy efficiency will help mitigate climate change, by reducing CO2 emissions, but will also provide the South with better access to the world’s energy resources.

Activities

• The World Future Council is developing an evaluation methodology for energy efficiency according to sector and regulatory approach (mandatory, incentive-based or voluntary) with clear recommendations for effective policy making. Governments will be encouraged to design measures suited to the specific national, economic, social and cultural reality.
  
  
• To support legislation processes, the World Future Council provides information on efficiency policy. It includes efficient energy production and transmission, large scale combined heat and power systems, smart urban transport systems, environmental taxation, efficiency standards for vehicles, buildings and appliances, energy performance contracts and incentives, and energy efficient light bulbs and cooking stoves.
  
  
• With its Policy Action on Climate Toolkit (PACT), the World Future Council provides a resource for policy-makers on renewable energy policies. The site offers the legal and technical expertise needed to develop and implement effective renewable energy legislation. At the moment, new content on energy efficiency is added such as models for effective regulation, policy recommendations and implementing measures.
  
  
• Strategy workshops will be organised that focus decision makers on energy efficiency policy best practice and offer global insight into policy implementation challenges for renewable energy. The workshops will be held in cooperation with e-Parliament, a global network of parliamentarians from more than 120 countries.