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Shell chairman calls for clean coal technologies to fight global warming Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com August 4, 2006 In a talk given last week at the prestigious Royal Society in Britain, the outgoing chairman of Shell Oil said that cleaner-burning coal technologies are urgently needed to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the ongoing use of fossil fuels in coming decades. Lord Ronald Oxburgh, non-executive chairman of Royal Dutch Shell PLC from 2004-2005, said that global climate change and the continued use of fossil fuels presents a huge challenge to mankind, which has developed civilization in an environment of "exceptionally stable" climate conditions over the past eight thousands years. He said that there is no simple answer to reigning in emissions of heat-trapping gases "because the developed world has an enormous infrastructure geared to the availability of cheap fuel and because world population and energy demand are growing rapidly." "We have to economise, be more efficient and move away from fossil fuels," Lord Oxburgh remarked. "Renewable energy sources such as wind, wave and solar have a role to play, but will not really come into their own until we have a way of storing their energy. New enzyme technology makes agricultural by-products, such as straw, a cost-effective and low carbon dioxide source of vehicle fuels, opening the way to co-production of fuel and food. Urban waste is another largely untapped energy source." With rising fuel prices, firms and investors are pouring millions of dollars into developing renewable energy technologies. Bill Gates, the world's richest man, has recently put $84 million in an American ethanol company, while global energy gluttons ranging from the United States to China are setting long-term targets for the switch to such fuels potentially offering a secure domestic source of renewable energy and fewer environmental headaches.
"It is... inevitable that fossil fuels will be widely used for many decades, particularly coal in developing countries," said Oxburgh. "No energy policy is complete that does not take account of this. It is urgent that techniques for burning coal cleanly be matured." "Time is pressing and we have to make a start on greenhouse gas control now with the technologies we have today new approaches will undoubtedly emerge and can be fed in as they develop over the next 25 years. Research developments in energy storage, carbon capture and efficient use of energy will be particularly important." RELATED ARTICLES China and India show rapid increase in global warming emissions Greenhouse gases on the rise, China and India show rapid increase; Rich countries consume more than half the energy produced in the globe; Poor countries still depending on traditional fuels.
Renewable energy in China, a strategic future? China's failed bid for American petroleum firm Unocal may prompt it to further focus on its development of alternative energy sources. While China has been actively investing in exploration and development operations in Africa, South America, and other parts of Asia over the past five years, China has also significantly expanded its interests in renewable energy sources including wind, solar, biofuels, tidal, and small hydroelectric dams. US has low-cost alternatives to oil; peak oil frenzy and human-induced climate change avoidable Surging oil prices have fueled calls for the United States to develop new sources of affordable and secure domestic energy. While renewable energy -- especially biofuels, wind power, and solar technologies -- is an area of particular interest, researchers from the Earth Institute at Columbia University say that the U.S. already has relatively low-cost alternatives to imported oil, including coal, tar sands, and oil shale. These resources can be extracted and used at a lower cost to the environment than some might expect. Venture Capitalists, China and Green Technology A Bay Area venture capitalist with a storied past, has set his sights on "green technology" and ultimately China, after some compelling remarks from state representatives at a recent conference. Early this spring, Chinese officials named solar and clean coal technologies as two of their three pre-eminent priorities for investment and development in the near future. For a country with burgeoning energy needs surpassing what power is presently available, this is both realistic and positive news for environmentalists and economists alike. Hoping to capitalize, John Doerr and his associates are now funneling cash into the emergent green technology sector, which he, and an increasing number of other investors believe to be the next big thing. Green coal? Process converts coal into diesel fuel As the United States' oil reserves dwindle, some say the nation will have to rely on synthetic petroleum fuel made from its large stores of coal. A two-step chemical process augments a method of making cleaner-burning alternative fuel from coal and other carbon sources by transforming some of its waste products into diesel fuel, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, report. This article used quotes from a Royal Society news release and previous mongabay.com articles. Recommend this article? Comments? Digg this article | Hugg this article | Contact News options Recommend this article? Comments? Digg this article | Hugg this article | Contact News options News index | RSS | Add to MyYahoo! Advertisements: Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing |
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