Hong Kong, 15 November 2016 – The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) report World Energy Outlook 2016 outlines the world’s future energy mix, but refuses to take full account of the breakthrough of renewable energy taking place across the world.
“The IEA confirms that coal is a threat to the air we breathe and the water we drink, yet the agency claims that coal is too cheap for developing countries like India to give up. This doesn’t factor in the public health costs from reduced air quality and water resources – costs that are too frequently borne by the poorest people.”
The report highlights the dramatic impacts of power generation on water, with coal-fired power plants in particular consuming vast amounts of precious freshwater. However, expensive and water-wasting carbon capture and storage (CCS) and nuclear power are given an outsized role in the IEA’s energy scenarios.
“In a world where climate extremes and droughts are becoming more common, governments across the world need to halt all new fossil fuel projects, and urgently shift investment to water efficient wind and solar power,” said Lammi.
“Instead of focusing on accelerating the most water efficient technologies such as solar PV and wind, the IEA still insists on increasing investment into water intensive coal and natural gas, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear power. Governments deserve better future energy roadmaps than this.”
Notes to editors:
1. Greenpeace International’s report, The Great Water Grab: How the Coal Industry is Deepening the Global Water Crisis, can be viewed here.
2. Greenpeace can provide further analysis of coal development in China and India on demand.