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Global energy efficiency governance in the context of climate politics

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Abstract

This paper argues that energy efficiency and conservation is a noncontroversial, critical, and equitable option for rich and poor alike. Although there is growing scientific and political consensus on its significance as an important option at global and national level, the political momentum for taking action is not commensurate with the potential in the sector or the urgency with which measures need to be taken to deal with climate change. The current global energy (efficiency) governance framework is diffuse. This paper submits that there are four substantive reasons why global governance should play a complementary role in promoting energy efficiency worldwide. Furthermore, given that market mechanisms are unable to rapidly mobilize energy efficiency projects and that there are no clear vested interests in this field which involves a large number of actors, there is need for a dedicated agency to promote energy efficiency and conservation. This paper provides an overview of energy efficiency options presented by IPCC, the current energy efficiency governance structure at global level, and efforts taken at supranational and national levels, and makes suggestions for a governance framework.

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Notes

  1. For more information, visit http://esa.un.org/un-energy.

  2. For more information see http://esa.un.org/un-energy/Activities%20and%20Events.htm.

  3. For more information on the IEA see http://www.iea.org.

  4. More details can be found on http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/fs/2008/102910.htm.

  5. More details on http://cees.colorado.edu/isea/Browse.

  6. Detailed information on http://unfccc.int/kyoto_mechanisms/aij/activities_implemented_jointly/items/2094.php.

  7. See for details, http://ttclear.unfccc.int/ttclear/jsp/.

  8. See for details http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=about.ab_index.

  9. See for details http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders/partners/index.html.

  10. See for details http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/index_en.html.

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Acknowledgements

The first author thanks the Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research VIDI project (contract number: 452-02-031) and the second author the Mexican System of National Researchers (contract number: 11794) and Programme on Climate Change of the INE and UNDP. Both authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1087 De Boelelaan, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Joyeeta Gupta

  2. Autonomous University of Southern Baja California, La Paz, Baja California, Mexico

    Antonina Ivanova

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  1. Joyeeta Gupta
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  2. Antonina Ivanova
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Correspondence to Joyeeta Gupta or Antonina Ivanova.

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For the Special Issue on Energy Efficiency, edited by Bert Metz and Diana Urge-Vorsatz, Energy Efficiency.

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Gupta, J., Ivanova, A. Global energy efficiency governance in the context of climate politics. Energy Efficiency 2, 339–352 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-008-9036-4

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