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Extract 1: Asian economies using oil subsidies In the global financial crisis, worldw ide energy consumption paused. But Asia continues to grow, despite the dour eco nomic outlook in th e United States and Europe, and so does its energy needs. Yet supply has been hit by uncertainties in the Middle East. Al though we have not seen major disruptions, prices for crude oil ar e fluctuating, ranging up to US$120 per barrel, and most predict the long-term trend will be upwards. To ensure affordability, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia continue to subsidise energy, increasing government burdens as oil prices rise. Their artificially low energy prices increase waste and destroy incentives to invest in alternative technologies. Studies suggest that energy efficiency measur es can achieve at least the equivalent savings in power needs with safe, off-the- shelf technology at a much lower cost. Renewable energy currently costs more but with technological advances, may prove viable in the medium term. Source: Today Online, 27 July 2011 Extract 2: UK’s Green Revolution Thousands of new wind turbi nes could be built across t he UK as part of a £100bn investment in renewable ener gy that could create hundr eds of thousands of new "green collar" jobs, Gordon Brown announced today. The prime minister unveiled what he described as a "green revolution" and "the most dramatic change in energy po licy since the advent of nucl ear power". He wants to build up Britain's clean powe r supply in order to reach the EU-imposed target of producing 15% of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2020. In a speech to an energy summit at the Ta te Modern art gallery in central London, Brown said that the North Sea, which has passed its peak in terms of oil and gas supplies, will be turned into "the equivalent for wind power of what the Gulf of Arabia is for oil". Wind turbines will also be built inland, but with sensitivity towards local communities. The government will also sh ortly begin a new advertising campaign showing people what steps they can take to reduce their energy and fuel bills – steps such as turning appliances off rather than leaving them on standby, and fitting new shower heads. The prime minister also sa id that he was prepared to ta ke on public opinion over green taxes, insisting that a low-carbon society would not emerge from a "business as usual" approach. Source: Guardian, June, 2008

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