Abstract
This chapter examines that the energy economy has great inertia, so that many historical trends will, in fact, carry forward far into the future. Patience on a generational time scale is probably a prerequisite for a satisfying career in energy policy. However, the future can and will eventually diverge from the past. Powerful dynamics of change include demographic processes; the discovery, trading, and depletion of varied energy resources; numerous technological and institutional innovations; and shifting geopolitical roles for actors on the world stage. Some of these dynamics are, in fact, choices that people, organizations, and nations can make about the future. Much of the value of forecasts and scenarios for the future lies in encouraging thoughtful discussion about which energy future we really want. A key part of that discussion is whether to accept a probable but undesirable energy future, or to pursue a more desirable, but also more challenging energy future.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Energy, Sustainability and the Environment |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Pages | 31-61 |
| Number of pages | 31 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780123851369 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
Cite this
Which Energy Future? / Felder, Frank; Andrews, Clinton J.; Hulkower, Seth D.
Energy, Sustainability and the Environment. Elsevier Inc., 2011. p. 31-61.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Which Energy Future?
AU - Felder, Frank
AU - Andrews, Clinton J.
AU - Hulkower, Seth D.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - This chapter examines that the energy economy has great inertia, so that many historical trends will, in fact, carry forward far into the future. Patience on a generational time scale is probably a prerequisite for a satisfying career in energy policy. However, the future can and will eventually diverge from the past. Powerful dynamics of change include demographic processes; the discovery, trading, and depletion of varied energy resources; numerous technological and institutional innovations; and shifting geopolitical roles for actors on the world stage. Some of these dynamics are, in fact, choices that people, organizations, and nations can make about the future. Much of the value of forecasts and scenarios for the future lies in encouraging thoughtful discussion about which energy future we really want. A key part of that discussion is whether to accept a probable but undesirable energy future, or to pursue a more desirable, but also more challenging energy future.
AB - This chapter examines that the energy economy has great inertia, so that many historical trends will, in fact, carry forward far into the future. Patience on a generational time scale is probably a prerequisite for a satisfying career in energy policy. However, the future can and will eventually diverge from the past. Powerful dynamics of change include demographic processes; the discovery, trading, and depletion of varied energy resources; numerous technological and institutional innovations; and shifting geopolitical roles for actors on the world stage. Some of these dynamics are, in fact, choices that people, organizations, and nations can make about the future. Much of the value of forecasts and scenarios for the future lies in encouraging thoughtful discussion about which energy future we really want. A key part of that discussion is whether to accept a probable but undesirable energy future, or to pursue a more desirable, but also more challenging energy future.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84884448153&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-385136-9.10002-6
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-12-385136-9.10002-6
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:84884448153
SN - 9780123851369
SP - 31
EP - 61
BT - Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
PB - Elsevier Inc.
ER -