Policies to Ease the Transition to a Post-Fossil Fuel Era
Author(s)
Ogihara, Akira; Gueye, M. Kamal; King, Peter N.; Mori, Hideyuki
Abstract
The high cost of renewable energy technologies and uncompetitive prices of power from renewable sources under present market conditions are among the factors impeding a necessary shift away from fossil fuels. This research examines policy options that could help to overcome these obstacles, focusing on two driving factors: the policy framework and market conditions, and institutions that promote, support, and service developers and suppliers of renewable energy. It is based on analysis of case studies of successful environmental policies in the areas of promoting the use of biomass energy use and innovative financing for renewable energy development. In particular it looks at promotion of renewable power, both in areas connected to the power grid and those that are not. The case studies were collected by the project Research on Innovative and Strategic Policy Options (RISPO), which was led by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Hayama, Japan. It is one of the series of eight linked papers in this special issue of the International Review for Environmental Strategies (IRES) describing a study to draw from the RISPO Good Practices Inventory useful lessons for environmental policymakers in developing countries.
