This week a new EU Ecodesign Directive brings in mandatory energy efficient standards for domestic ovens, cookers and cooker hoods. The change would (allegedly) save the average consumer €50 a year or €230 over the lifetime of an oven. Obviously this suggests the modern oven or cooker is not expected to last very long! The reason for these changes is to reduce CO2 emissions, and thus save the planet from Armageddon due to global warming. But how effective is this going to be, when considered in the wider context of the whole planet?
In 20 years, there will be 1.6 billion more people on the planet, according to the latest predictions. That’s more than three times today’s total population of all 28 EU Member States. But the world economy is set to grow faster still, doubling in size, with GDP per capita being 75% higher than today. According to the BP Energy Outlook 2035 just published this week, primary energy consumption is set to increase by 37%, growing by an average of 1.4% each year. 96% of this growth will be outside the OECD, with energy consumption up 2.2% annually. Fossil fuels will still account for 81% of our energy needs, a drop of only 5% from 2013.
Of course these new standards are not really going to make any measurable difference to the world's CO2 emissions, or to the temperature of the planet. They are simply a gesture designed to show that something is being done, and to persuade the public that they need to take action.
The above summary is taken from the latest Scientific Alliance newsletter
In 20 years, there will be 1.6 billion more people on the planet, according to the latest predictions. That’s more than three times today’s total population of all 28 EU Member States. But the world economy is set to grow faster still, doubling in size, with GDP per capita being 75% higher than today. According to the BP Energy Outlook 2035 just published this week, primary energy consumption is set to increase by 37%, growing by an average of 1.4% each year. 96% of this growth will be outside the OECD, with energy consumption up 2.2% annually. Fossil fuels will still account for 81% of our energy needs, a drop of only 5% from 2013.
Of course these new standards are not really going to make any measurable difference to the world's CO2 emissions, or to the temperature of the planet. They are simply a gesture designed to show that something is being done, and to persuade the public that they need to take action.
The above summary is taken from the latest Scientific Alliance newsletter
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