Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



US energy conference debates global challenges
Published in Daily News Egypt on 07 - 10 - 2009

OHIO: After a three-day conference that brought 26 energy experts together with 30 specialized reporters from all over the US, one would expect to walk away with a lot of answers to the energy challenges facing our world.
However, at the end of the McCormick Energy Solution Conference, some of the most pressing questions remained unanswered.
Daily News Egypt was the only non-American publication attending the conference, which was held in Ohio State University in late September.
In his keynote speech, Steven Koonin, the Department of Energy's under secretary for science, summed up the energy challenges facing the US in three points: securing reliable resources; dealing with green house gas emissions, the biggest contributor to global climate change; and making the changes needed in energy sources.
The key steps as listed by Koonin are to "identify, develop, demonstrate and deploy cost-effective, material and timely solutions.
Energy concerns are not far from Egypt's shores, where 95 percent of energy needs are generated by oil and gas resources, according to the 2007 National Security Review by the ruling National Democratic Party.
In his research on the future of the energy market, Don McConnell, president of Battelle Energy Technology, an Ohio-based research institutions, concluded that global energy markets will be driven by four overarching factors: "The diversification of energy supply and reserves, the increasing impact of climate change, increased electric power intensity of the global economy and finally increasing pressure for infrastructure renewal.
One intriguing prediction is that developing countries will become major players, according to Marilyn A. Brown, professor of energy policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Many say the leaders of emerging economies will put economic development ahead of environmental protection, especially if the US fails to take needed action to protect the global environment at the next Kyoto Protocol meeting.
There was a light at the end of the tunnel, according to Meyer J. Benzakein, professor and chair of the aerospace engineering department at the Wright Brothers Institute, "China is now the fourth wind energy producer in the world, preceded by the US, Germany and Spain, and followed by India, in 2008.
China is also the leading producer of solar energy in the world, "so emerging economies are paying close attention to renewable energy, which is a very good sign, Benzakein said.
The main energy challenge facing the world, experts agreed, is the fact that traditional resources will be depleted sooner rather than later, no matter how many new reserves are discovered.
Green house gases continue to damage the environment, pushing climate change and raising water levels. The most fertile lands, including Egypt's Delta, are in grave danger.
Developing renewable resources, such as wind, solar, nuclear, should be topping the agenda of governments around the world.
Many fear that US President Barack Obama will not take the necessary measures to face climate change head on at the Kyoto meeting in Copenhagen in two months.
What the conference failed to answer was whether a shift in world powers will allow for the much needed global mobilization towards less energy consumption. Many were also left wondering how the fierce competition over global energy resources will reflect on the lives of the average citizen.
The rapid growth of emerging powers such as China, India, Brazil and Russia will change the global energy outlook, so integration and coordination between world powers is key.


Clic here to read the story from its source.