The links between energy and climate change are undeniable. Concerns about climate change are a fundamental driver of change in energy systems and policy. Energy systems are the primary human-induced cause of climate change. Given the policy differences in terms of action and differing impacts on the ground, IUCN addresses climate change and energy in a differentiated and complementary way.
Links between energy and climate change
Energy is a critical environmental issue. Increased awareness of the negative externalities – particularly climate change – from the current energy mix has galvanized the international community into action culminating in the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Though largely recognized as not sufficient to stabilise the global climate, the Kyoto Protocol establishes a significant step for global action. Importantly, it has established the basis for capping overall carbon emissions and pricing those emissions through market-based mechanisms. Thus the means are available to internalize some of the negative externalities of energy production and consumption into global markets – a critical step to curbing emissions.
While climate change dominates as the most significant indirect impact on biodiversity from energy production and consumption, direct impacts associated with energy systems are also important – such as habitat loss and fragmentation from energy infrastructure and production and species impacts from pollution and collision.
IUCN is also working on climate change and particularly focused on policy interventions and adaptation work. Please see IUCN's Climate Change website for further information.
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