News Brief: Energy Mix for 2050 Still Uncertain

(HN, June 27, 2010) – CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Energy experts says the next three decades will see changes in the energy mix but one that still includes considerable use of fossil fuels.

Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser said demand for energy will skyrocket because by 2050 the planet's population will jump to about 9.2 billion people from the current 6.8 billion - mostly in the developing world.

In another three decades, up to 60 percent of the energy mix will still be from fossil fuels, with most of the remainder being renewable energy, including nuclear power.

Voser said he supports the drive for a lower carbon world but that it will take another four or five decades "before we see a fundamental shift" in a more climate-friendly energy mix.

The European Union's Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedergaard, said the fossil fuel component of 60 percent of the energy mix is probably too high and that a big part of the answer needs to be found in creating more energy efficiency.

Peter Seligmann. The head of Conservation International, said that a silver lining of the gulf oil spill was that it’s brought a "sea change in the interest and awareness in how you take care of the environment." He added that ordinary people's understanding and awareness of environmental issues has been nothing short of "remarkable."

--Reporting by HUMNEWS’ Michael Bociurkiw, at the Fortune/Time/CNN Global Forum