President Gorbachev calls for Dramatic Boost to Solar Energy to Revitalise Economy, Fight Climate Change & Energy Poverty.
Green Cross International Founder Mikhail Gorbachev has urged world leaders and the private sector to make big investments in solar energy swiftly as a way out of the current economic crisis and as part of an emergency response to climate change. Mr. Gorbachev was addressing a press conference in San Antonio, Texas, where he addresses the 33rd NPRA International Petrochemical Conference.
Image: Distribution of Solar Energy Potential Worldwide
“The oil industry is a key stakeholder. Their commitment is essential to turn the tide against the massive accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” Mr. Gorbachev pointed out. “This economic crisis must mark the beginning of a new sustainable development path that has been long overdue. Solar power needs big investments to expand and create significant effects. For the two billion people currently living without electricity, the sun is the best hope.”
Talking about the enormous potential that tapping solar energy holds, Mr. Gorbachev referred to the Global Solar Report Card, the first of its kind, analyzing 16 countries’ investments in solar energy. The full report can be found here.
• Germany (A-) scored highest as the country with most PV installed and having put in place promising ‘drivers for future growth’, still finishes with only 70 out of a 100 possible points. The state of California (B), also scored well in 2nd place, having implemented a 10-year $3 billion rebate program for solar.
• Countries that rate poorly in the study are Russia (F) and Poland (F), with no solar markets and no mechanisms to capitalize on their solar potential, and to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom (D-) with a very small market and no significant support for solar growth at this time. While the UK is in the process of designing a solar support program, impact will not be seen until the end of 2010.