The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that in the absence of strong mitigation policies, the global average temperature is likely to rise above the international 2°C target agreed to by the 194 member-nations. “As a major source of carbon emissions,the energy sector will be affected by policies that restrict carbon emissions as well as by climate impacts in multiple ways” says the report.
Rising water, changing regional weather patterns and extreme weather events will affect demand and impact energy production and transmission. Strong global policy action would also have major implications for investments. One preventative step? Improved energy efficiency.
The Panel has produced an infographic that illustrates these potential impacts on the energy sector. For anyone in the energy business, it’s a picture worth seeing.