A Global Assessment on Sustainable Energy for All

The document presents a framework for a global energy assessment to support the Rio+20 Earth Summit, focusing on a 'triple global energy challenge': providing affordable energy for all, phasing out fossil fuels to stabilize the climate, and operating within Earth system boundaries. It proposes a 'new model' of development where all countries reach a GDP per capita equivalent to current middle-income levels by 2050, requiring a massive transition to renewable energy and efficiency. The authors recommend the adoption of strategic principles, including a transparent global investment fund for renewables in poor economies and the use of the planetary boundaries framework to manage environmental risks.

• Humanity faces a 'triple global energy challenge' consisting of the urgent need for affordable energy services for both basic and productive needs, the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels to stabilize the climate, and the requirement to operate within 'safe operating space' boundaries for biodiversity, land use, and freshwater.
• The document argues that 'energy for all' must extend beyond basic poverty alleviation to include energy systems for industrial and productive uses, enabling all countries to reach a GDP per capita of approximately 20,000 USD (current middle-income levels) by 2050.
• To meet a 2-degree climate target, global emissions must be reduced by 50-60% from 2000 levels by 2050, requiring reductions of 75-90% in the EU and US, while allowing Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia to increase emissions for a few more decades before bending the curve by 2050.
• Different energy sources impact various planetary boundaries: fossil fuels affect climate change, ozone depletion, aerosol loading, and chemical pollution; hydropower affects freshwater, biodiversity, and land use; and biomass-based renewables impact land use, freshwater, nitrogen/phosphorus cycles, biodiversity, aerosol loading, and climate change.
• The authors recommend establishing a transparent global investment fund for renewable energy in poor and emerging economies, combined with technology sharing and learning platforms.
• The document suggests that sustainable energy supply and demand measures should be used as a 'currency' to measure progress toward the Millennium Development Goals and within negotiating frameworks like the UNFCCC and CBD.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2011). A Global Assessment on Sustainable Energy for All. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PositionPaper-FBDS-AGlobalAssessmentOnSustainableEnergyForAll-2011.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. A Global Assessment on Sustainable Energy for All. 2011. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PositionPaper-FBDS-AGlobalAssessmentOnSustainableEnergyForAll-2011.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=A Global Assessment on Sustainable Energy for All |date=30 October 2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PositionPaper-FBDS-AGlobalAssessmentOnSustainableEnergyForAll-2011.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2011global, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{A Global Assessment on Sustainable Energy for All}}, publisher = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PositionPaper-FBDS-AGlobalAssessmentOnSustainableEnergyForAll-2011.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }