Approaches to Global Development

Abstract

As a consequence of the material and energy flow analyses discussed in the preceding chapters, this chapter presents general criteria for future development and related technology options. As the most important criterion, human activities in energy conversion should make optimum use of natural cycles, instead of depending on non-renewable fossil raw materials. However, this is possible only if technologies are developed that can cope with the low average flux densities of natural energy and material flows. Examples are discussed for the electricity and heat generation sectors, mobility and transport, with a short discussion of bioenergy and hydrogen. As a means for better understanding the contribution of individual life styles, per-capita energy demand values and CO2 emission patterns are presented, which are easy to use in personal case studies. Global strategies for development in terms of protecting the global biosphere are introduced, based on scenarios that can be found in the open literature, regarding future developments of emissions and responses of the global climate system. The transition process to a non-fossil energy supply system as recently initiated in Germany is also outlined.