26 March 2012: The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) had co-authored a policy brief titled “An energy vision for a planet under pressure, transformation to sustainability: interconnected challenges and solutions,” in the lead up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

The paper presents a vision towards 2050, outlining policy objectives and elements required to enable this transition. Under developing a ‘Solutions Science’ for the Energy System, various issues are highlighted including: energy pathways; the need to scale up long-term investments; the need for policy incentives; basing transformation on RD&D effort; how integrated policy making delivers more for less; need for better governance and societal support; and international cooperation to speed up implementation. Among the major energy issues discussed in the brief are: increasing demand for energy services; environmental risks; climate change; air pollution; energy security; and lack of long-term investments.

The brief is one of nine prepared for the Planet Under Pressure Conference, held from 26-29 March 2012 in London, England. Topics of other Planet Under Pressure briefs include water security, food security, governance and institutions, biodiversity and green economy. SEI is an Associate member of the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD), a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) facilitated knowledge network on energy, development, and environment issues. [Publication: An Energy Vision for a Planet Under Pressure, Transformation to Sustainability: Interconnected Challenges and Solutions] [Other Planet Under Pressure Policy Briefs]