Background
The world faces a serious energy crisis. Business as usual will not solve the problems that we face, either in terms of addressing energy needs for development or in addressing climate change and air quality.
Billions of people around the world lack access to reliable energy services. Millions of others find their health threatened by continued reliance on traditional biomass and fossil fuels and we all face the imminent threat of climate change. High and volatile oil prices in world oil markets also place severe strains and economic impacts on emerging and developing countries that are heavily reliant on oil imports.
Strong action and leadership is needed from business, government, academia, and civil society, to meet future energy needs for sustainable development. Industrialized countries are not necessarily leading the way in responding to alternative energy needs or addressing climate change concerns. Some companies in emerging markets, however, have taken the initiative to develop, produce, and distribute new alternative energy technologies that will help move them and us to grow economically while at the same time helping to mitigate climate change.
The Dialogue
Throughout the “Scaling Alternative Energy: The Role of Emerging Markets” Dialogue, participants are asked to reflect on three key themes:
- Sustainable Development and Energy – How can development be fueled in a sustainable way? What does a sustainable energy future look like? How does it address energy resource availability, air quality and climate change? What are realistic options for promoting a sustainable energy system in developed and developing countries? Developing countries in particular will need a growing amount of energy to fuel their development. Since coal is an abundant (although carbon intensive and polluting) low-cost energy resource, what role will this fossil fuel play in future development? How can coal use be capped or made less destructive, and how can the energy needs of emerging markets be addressed through alternatives to coal? How can we promote sustainable development all around the world while addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation?
- Globalization and the Promotion of New Technologies in Emerging Markets – What is the role of emerging markets in leading the way to a sustainable energy future? What have they managed to achieve so far and what potential is there for them to be leaders in alternative energy both in their own countries as well as around the globe? What are the respective roles of the government and private sector in charting the course to a sustainable energy future?
- Promoting Alternative Energy in Emerging Markets – Policies and Financing – To promote and scale out alternative energy technologies, government policies and financing opportunities need to be examined. How do governments develop their own regulatory and market incentive structures to address carbon emissions reductions in a way that fits with their own values, institutions, and economies? How can economies achieve GDP growth while reducing carbon emissions? What kinds of regulations, market structures and incentives are different countries exploring? How can the demand for, and use of, alternative energy be scaled out – particularly to support needed social and economic development around the world. How can needed financial support and incentives be provided? What are the sources of financing for shifting and scaling out energy technologies in emerging markets?
The Dialogue format is designed to promote and provoke open interchange. Each of the topics noted above will include a speaker to frame the issues, a group of high-level discussants, and a moderator. They will meet around a table that is on stage in front of an audience. Dialogue results will determine the direction of further discussion and specific courses of action. A summary of the conclusions and next steps will be prepared by the Fletcher School and a report will be published and made available electronically.
Case Studies
Financing Alternative Energy Case Study 
