The global environmental issues and the power industry

There can be no progress without the use of energy, and no use of energy without the use of technology. Technology allows us to transform a raw energy source, such as coal, into a more usable form, such as electricity, which has underpinned the impressive growth in living standards in the industrialised world. But at the same time, man has become increasingly aware of the limits of his unchecked use of some energy sources. The threat of global warming may change long-term energy prospects entirely. A third of the earth´s 6 billion inhabitants still live without electricity. In their quest for growth, they will want to utilise their share of the Earth´s energy resources. A new course will have to be taken. It already has a name-“sustainable development”, which implies that progress must “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Changing Course, 1992). But development relies on energy. And energy needs technology to make it available in an acceptable, sustainable way. The authors discuss energy technologies and the Kyoto protocol with particular reference to CO₂ reduction. ABB´s commitment to sustainable development and activities in this area are also discussed