Technology Transfers: Developing Renewable Energy Sources Essay

Technology Transfers: Putting Theory into Practice Climate change is an increasingly demanding issue as global population continues to grow, energy sources are being depleted and cooperation between actors to take action is often difficult to enforce. Renewable energy is a growing technology. With the depletion of fossil fuels as well as increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel burning, energy dependency will have to shift to renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal. Unfortunately, these technologies are expensive and building new or altering old plants to allow for their use is costly. Because developing countries are in transition and have a growing energy demand, their building of new energy facilities should logically incorporate and implement the new, cleaner technology. Most countries do not have the funds to support the new technology and so resort to purchasing old, inefficient parts from firms in developed countries that have already adjusted their technolog y. The Kyoto Protocol calls for increased energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources as well as limiting emissions of greenhouse gases (UNIDO, 3). Each Annex I country is expected to adhere to reduction commitments while developing countries are not obligated to specific commitments, they still must report their progress and are encouraged to begin reductions of emissions where possible (Cullet, 168). In order to encourage developed countries' emission reductions of greenhouse gases, flexible mechanisms were instituted under the Kyoto Protocol, such as the Cleaner Development Mechanism or Joint Implementation. Cleaner Development Mechanisms involve one country with commitments an... ...s 11: 3, 1-30. Cullet, Philippe. 1999. Equity and Flexibility Mechanisms in the Climate Change Regime: Conceptual and Practical Issues. Review of European Community and International Environmental Law 8:2, 168. Duic, Neven, Luis M. Alves and Maria da Graca Carvalho. 2001. Potential of Kyoto Protcol in Transfer of Energy Technologies to Insular Countries. Transactions of Famena 25: 2, 27-37. Lash III, William H. 2000. The Kyoto Climate Change Treaty. Society 37: 4, 43-49. Renewable Energy Technology and Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms. 2003. European Commission. European Commuities, Belgium, pp 6- 30. Service Module 6: Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Overview. Online. United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Available:  HYPERLINK "http://www.unido.org/oc/5071. Updated 2004"
http://www.unido.org/oc/5071. Updated 2004. [Accessed May 2004]. Technology Transfers: Developing Renewable Energy Sources Essay Technology Transfers: Putting Theory into Practice Climate change is an increasingly demanding issue as global population continues to grow, energy sources are being depleted and cooperation between actors to take action is often difficult to enforce. Renewable energy is a growing technology. With the depletion of fossil fuels as well as increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel burning, energy dependency will have to shift to renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal. Unfortunately, these technologies are expensive and building new or altering old plants to allow for their use is costly. Because developing countries are in transition and have a growing energy demand, their building of new energy facilities should logically incorporate and implement the new, cleaner technology. Most countries do not have the funds to support the new technology and so resort to purchasing old, inefficient parts from firms in developed countries that have already adjusted their technolog y. The Kyoto Protocol calls for increased energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources as well as limiting emissions of greenhouse gases (UNIDO, 3). Each Annex I country is expected to adhere to reduction commitments while developing countries are not obligated to specific commitments, they still must report their progress and are encouraged to begin reductions of emissions where possible (Cullet, 168). In order to encourage developed countries' emission reductions of greenhouse gases, flexible mechanisms were instituted under the Kyoto Protocol, such as the Cleaner Development Mechanism or Joint Implementation. Cleaner Development Mechanisms involve one country with commitments an... ...s 11: 3, 1-30. Cullet, Philippe. 1999. Equity and Flexibility Mechanisms in the Climate Change Regime: Conceptual and Practical Issues. Review of European Community and International Environmental Law 8:2, 168. Duic, Neven, Luis M. Alves and Maria da Graca Carvalho. 2001. Potential of Kyoto Protcol in Transfer of Energy Technologies to Insular Countries. Transactions of Famena 25: 2, 27-37. Lash III, William H. 2000. The Kyoto Climate Change Treaty. Society 37: 4, 43-49. Renewable Energy Technology and Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms. 2003. European Commission. European Commuities, Belgium, pp 6- 30. Service Module 6: Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Overview. Online. United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Available:  HYPERLINK "http://www.unido.org/oc/5071. Updated 2004"
http://www.unido.org/oc/5071. Updated 2004. [Accessed May 2004].