Clean energy – a prerequisite for a stable, livable and peaceful world

As we all know, energy is THE foundation for economic growth and social progress. Our prosperity is based on energy – as are the possibilities for advancing the well-being of humankind. And as we all know: there is much to do here. Today more than one billion people worldwide have no or insufficient access to electricity. At the same time, forecasts indicate that the demand for both primary energy (plus 33%) and electricity (plus 78%) will soar by mid-century. On the one hand, this means that global energy supplies have to be developed and secured. But on the other hand, reliable energy supplies can’t be provided at the cost of our environment: Most recently the United Nations’ IPCC report called for urgent action to limit global warming to even 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels. Today, power generation accounts for 25% of the CO2 emissions worldwide. In order to avoid the most serious consequences for our climate more electricity must not mean a further increase in CO2.

Given this challenge, our task as industry is to work together with our customers to provide solutions that help decarbonize the energy sector and, as electrification grows, also make sectors like mobility more environmentally friendly.

Siemens is a strong supporter of the Paris agreement. By providing innovative technologies, we see ourselves as a leading partner helping our customers and society in their efforts to decarbonize.

But to succeed with these solutions over the long term, we have to join forces. And that is our appeal to all decision-makers: Siemens fully supports them in enabling policies:

1. To use energy as efficiently as possible,
2. To increase the share of renewable energy and accelerate the switch to low-carbon fueled conventional power generation, 
3. To redesign electricity markets to ensure sufficient investments in sustainable, secure and efficient energy systems,
4. To accelerate the uptake of highly flexible technologies to integrate renewable energies and ensure system stability,
5. And to accelerate the decarbonization of other sectors with sector integration, including Power-to-X technologies.

Everyone can do their part here. Siemens, for example, is aiming to halve our carbon footprint by 2020 and become carbon-neutral by 2030. To achieve these goals, we are, among other things, investing around €100 million in innovative technologies to reduce the energy footprint of our production facilities and buildings. In addition to cutting our carbon emissions annually by 80,000 metric tons, we also expect to save €20 million a year in lower energy costs.

After all, we only have this one world of ours. Let’s work together to make energy a key fundamental for a stable, livable and peaceful world! Let’s work together to further decarbonize the world!

10, 09, 2018

Lisa Davis, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG

Picture credits: Siemens AG