Making It, Issue 9: Our low-carbon future. January 2012

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Imagine a future where the power of green technology drives a new economic revolution, and where everyone, all over the world, has access to clean, safe, and affordable energy services. Does this sound far-fetched? Not according to our contributors. Jeremy Rifkin, whose latest book, The Third Industrial Revolution, is making a big impact, sees developments in renewable energy and communications platforms coming together to form a economic paradigm which will drive humanity to more sustainable horizons. Kandeh K. Yumkella and Morgan Bazilian see the Sustainable Energy for All and Green Industry initiatives as key steps in an essential transition to an inclusive new economy.

With the International Energy Agency warning that the world is heading for irreversible climate change in less than five years, there is no time to waste. Elsewhere in this issue of Making It, Soogil Young explains how the Republic of Korea is one of the countries setting the pace in the drive to build a green economy. Jigar Shah from the Carbon War Room writes that business has a major role to play, too, and Morten Albaek of the WindMade group introduces one way that the private sector is taking action to try and secure our future.

How realistic is this vision of an innovative economic model based on renewable energy, and how can we reach it? Read on. This is our low-carbon future.