Alternative energy discussed, but not decided at IEF

by Alexander Manda

The International Energy Forum (IEF) that ran on Tuesday and Wednesday in Mexico's Caribbean coast resort city of Cancun discussed alternative energy and ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but no firm conclusions were reached.

Felipe Calderon, president of the host nation Mexico, raised the topic during his opening speech, and the last session of the conference was dedicated to the topic. Oil producing nations also pushed to promote carbon capture technology and called on rich countries to shoulder the investments to make it happen.

"In the 21st century there will be a major transition," Calderon told the opening session of the IEF conference on Tuesday. "Humanity now has an opportunity to create a new industrial revolution. We are seeking energy security and environmental sustainability."

Calderon has made reducing greenhouse gas emissions one of the central planks of his presidency, which began in December 2006. He wants every state in the nation to have emissions reduction measures in place by the time he leaves office in 2012. Calderon also spent much of 2009 promoting the so-called Green Fund, a multilateral structure to help nations find funding for mitigation projects.

"It is clear that the developed nations and the developing nations need to balance their use of renewable and fossil fuels," Calderon said. "The key ... is to find alternative means that create economic growth."

However, other major oil producers made the case for mitigation rather than replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources.
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