Sustainable development and global climate change have figured prominently in scientific analysis and international policymaking since the early 1990s. This book formulates technology strategies that will lead to environmentally sustainable energy systems, based on an analysis of global climate change issues using the concept of sustainable development. The authors focus on environmentally compatible, long-term technology developments within the global energy system, while also considering aspects of economic and social sustainability. The authors analyze a large number of alternative scenarios and illustrate the differences between those that meet the criteria for sustainable development and those that do not. As a result of their analysis, they identify a variety of promising socio-economic and environmental development paths that are consistent with sustainable development. One sustainable-development scenario and its policy implications are then presented in detail from a technology change perspective. The authors propose ambitious targets for technology adoption that are judged to achieve the desired socio-economic and environmental goals. Although the optimal policy mix to pursue these targets is clearly country-specific, the authors suggest that energy-related R&D that leads to technology performance improvements and the promotion of technology adoption in niche markets are the policy options which will yield the most significant long-term benefits. Policymakers, economists and researchers working on sustainability, energy economics, and technology change and innovation will welcome this topical and highly readable book.

This book provides a synthesis of the energy-related results of the large scale project entitled "Climate Teclmology Strategy within Competitive Energy Markets" partly financed by the European Commission under the Non Nuclear Energy (JOULE III) EU-RTD programme (Contract JOS3-CT95-0008). Research in this project involved several organisations from almost all European Union member states, including: ICCS/NTUA (co-ordinator), CES/KULeuven, GRETA Associati, University of Mannheim/ZEW, ESD Ltd., IEPE/CNRS, IDEI, IPTS/JRC, UCL/CORE, SSE/EFI, KFA/STE, ENSPM-FIICEG, University of Strathclyde, IER/University of Stuttgart, YTT, ETSU, IIASA/ECS, ERASME/CCIP, ECOSIM Cons. Ltd., OME, BPB, CRES. In relation of the "pre-and post-Kyoto" context for Climate Change and also with th respect to the preparation of the y EU-RTD Framework Programme, a large exploitation ofthe results is being made. Huguette Laval of the European Commission, DGXII, was the project scientific officer. With Pierre Yalette, Head of the Unit in DGXII, they have given fruitful I advices for the project. Thanks are given to them.