Keynote speaker 1: The role of technology and energy demand reduction in climate policy

The recent publication by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) demonstrates the need for rapid and deep cuts in Greenhouse Gas emissions to have a reasonable probability of limiting global temperature increases to two degrees. The report is clear: we need a rapid role out of low carbon technologies and significant reductions in energy demand. However, many government strategies for addressing climate change rely predominately on technological solutions and have ignored the full potential of energy efficiency measures to achieve an absolute reduction in energy. The presentation will consider the need to balance rapid technological progress in low carbon technologies with changing consumption patterns. The presentation will cover the role of trade, resource efficiency measures and the economy in climate change.