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Rethinking Energy Demand
International Energy Agency
Paris, France
December 17, 2018
Among the Speakers:
John A. “Skip” Laitner
Abstract
Over the course of three days in late September 2018, a diverse set of invited researchers from around the world met in Nara, Japan to present, discuss, and explore their thinking in the reemergent field of energy-service transformation to solve for climate change and sustainable development opportunities. Sponsored by the Research Institute for Innovative Technologies for the Earth (RITE) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the workshop was attended by 28 participants from 11 countries. The intent was to further interdisciplinary dialogue on novel conceptualizations of energy demand, and new approaches to data, modelling and analysis.
As envisioned, the presentation here will highlight the main points and discussion from that workshop. Key topics will include a revitalized overview of the wholly inefficient use of energy (and other resources) as both a social-economic imperative and also as a critical climate change solution. It will also explore the full range of opportunities to develop much greater levels of energy efficiency, and also the scale and many levels of effort necessary to realize that full opportunity.
There is neither a law of physics nor economics that prevents us from quadrupling the productive use of energy and other resources. Rather, it is much more an issue of imagination and our political will to get it done.
– John A. “Skip” Laitner