A Bridge to the Future
Professor Nebojsa Nakicenovic of the International
Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria
is a well-known lead author in IPCC, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change.
With colleagues from the Institute, Professor Nakicenovic
has produced a report called: "Global Natural Gas
Perspectives" in which he concludes that:
"...energy gases could become the means to reduce
energy-related emissions of greenhouse-gases and to
provide affordable and sufficient energy services
for further development of the world..."
The natural gas industry is aware of the environmental
advantages of its product and of the need to improve
efficiencies. Methods to reduce emission of greenhouse
gases are on the agenda nationally and globally.
The IGU is focused on advancing this awareness and
promoting the important role of natural gas as a partial
solution to climate change and in improving air quality.
In combination with energy conservation, natural gas
will help to bridge our current energy needs with
the non-carbon emitting and renewable energy sources
that will become viable in the future.
As demand for energy grows, increased effort should
be focused on the transfer of technology from developed
countries to developing countries. The IGU, with members
from both categories, will take the opportunity during
the next few years to explore opportunities for joint
projects that involve technology transfer.
Peter K. Storm,
Secretary General
International Gas Union
&
Jane McRae
Program Analyst
Westcoast Energy Inc.
Canada
References
US Environmental Protection Agency and American Gas
Association;
BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2001;
Global Natural Gas Perspectives, N. Nakicenovic with
A. Gritsevskyi, A. Grübler and K. Riahi, IIASA & IGU,
2000;
Kirchgessner, D.A., et al (1997) Estimate of Methane
Emissions from the U.S. Natural Gas Industry, Chemosphere,
Vol. 35, No. 6, pp. 1365-1390.
