23/03/2012 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Strasbourg, 23.03.2012 - “The energy sector will continue to be dominated by fossil fuels for many years to come. It is vital to first diversify our approach to energy”, said an expert, Professor Samuele Furfari, at a hearing held in Paris today by tPACE's Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development.
In particular, he proposed a three-pronged approach to diversification. “First of all, we must stop setting different forms of energy against one another. We need all sources of energy: oil, gas, coal, nuclear power and, of course, renewables. In future, there will therefore no longer be a single dominant source of energy. Secondly, we must recognise that we have partners and that it is vital to know one another’s needs.
That is why I would call for closer integration between consumer and supplier countries and the development of real dialogue. As Europe is surrounded by producer countries in its relatively close neighbourhood, the strategy aimed at diversifying supplies from a single country as well as diversification of supplier countries themselves will increase security of supply. Lastly, it is also necessary to diversify supply routes so as to avoid potential problems relating to transit through third countries.”
A report on energy diversification as a fundamental contribution to sustainable development will be presented to the PACE by Doris Barnett (Germany, SOC) in the near future. It will advocate better information for the general public, who may believe that clean, cheap and available solutions are close at hand, and will explain that the solutions presented will not bring about radical changes to the energy system.