ABSTRACT
Mitigating climate change and achieving stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is the objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This would require deep reductions in global energy related carbon dioxide emissions. The consequences of increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere on the environment and life are being witnessed globally (IPCC 2007). IEA Technology Perspectives 2008 shows a scenario where global GHG emissions peak between 2020 and 2030 and will be halved, if appropriate and immediate actions are taken, by 2050. Developing new or improved low-carbon energy technologies, especially clean coal technologies, thus become very essential. Large capacity and higher efficiency coal-fired power generating technologies facilitate reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Such technologies have been developed and demonstrated. Large-scale R&D efforts are being continued to enhance the performance and bring down the costs for wider implementation. Adequate policies, regulations, legislations and financial mechanisms specifically designed to promote technology change are required. Since the ‘technology change’ plays a critical role in making available affordable new lowcarbon energy technologies, well-meaning and committed international collaborations and knowledge-sharing arrangements have to be fully developed.
