2005 Press Releases
Energy, Environment and Economics - Last Lecture Series, 25 May
The close relationship between energy, environment and economics has
been overlooked by politicians and governments. This has led to
significant environmental damage on a global scale as nations have
struggled to satisfy economic needs by employing unrestrained use of
fossil fuels. The cost of this damage has largely been ignored as
also has the urgency to correct it.
Supporting an ever increasing world population - an expected 50%
increase by 2050 - requires high and stable levels of economic growth
and employment; such levels should be achieved only by use of the least
harmful energy sources. These, and many other questions will be raised
on Wednesday evening next (25 May) when Frank Turvey, a consulting
engineer, delivers the next lecture "Energy, Environment and Economics"
in the continuing University College Cork Faculty of Science Public
Lecture Series, which this year marks the Cork 2005 celebrations.
Actual and potential damage, especially that caused by climate change,
will be discussed together with the various international actions taken
to avoid and mitigate it.
Frank Turvey expresses the view that a "business as usual" attitude in
the immediate future, involving the continued use of fossil fuels to
meet increasing energy demand, is dangerous; there must be a
significant switch to carbon-free energy sources before 2020. These
would include nuclear, wind, biomass and pumped storage hydro-electric:
in addition the use of hydrogen, initially, to replace oil and gas in
the heavy vehicle sector of the transport industry and later in the
rest of the industry should be implemented.
Finally, more aggressive enforcement of schemes to improve energy
efficiency and further investment in the research of sustainable energy
systems is essential.
The lecture, organised by Professor William Reville, Faculty of
Science, UCC, will take place in Boole Lecture Theatre 4 at 8 pm on
Wednesday, 25 May. Admission is free and as always, members of the
public are invited to attend.
075MMcS
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