The global reservoir of fossil fuel energies, particularly oil, is depleting at an increasing pace. Pretty soon only the deposits that can be extracted with difficulty will become the focus of attention. Exhaustion of these reserves leads to actual or alleged shortages, which in turn result in economic refusals or even military conflicts. It is obvious that we are living at the expense of upcoming generations. This also applies to the CO2 problem. In the last 125 years, the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has risen by 35 percent. A reorientation is urgently necessary. The vision of the 2000-watt society calls for a continuous reduction in energy needs to 2000 watts. pro person This target should be achieved as quickly as possible. By the year 2050, the amount of fossil energy sources can be cut in half from the current figure of 3000 watts to 1500 watts per person. There are good reasons for the extended time horizon: the change requires rigorous adjustment of the infrastructure and an intelligent lifestyle, otherwise the 2000-watt society will remain merely a vision (see diagram below).
- The primary energy consumption in Switzerland today is approx. 6000 Watt per capita. This graph depicts a potential development towards a 2000-watt society.
A CO2 output of one ton per capita a year is also an applicable long-term goal for Switzerland. This limit corresponds to a consumption of around 500 watts of fossil fuels. If the fossil fuel energy needs are reduced at the pace specified in the 2000-watt vision, the ambitious CO2 target can be achieved in the second half of this century or at the very latest, in the course of the next century.
The quality of life in the 2000-watt society does not undergo any restrictions. On the contrary, security, health, the comfort and individual development of people are all improved whereas incomes would rise by around 60 percent in 50 years. However, these ambitious goals cannot be attained without decisive action.
- Enhancement of material and energy efficiency
- Substitution of renewable energy sources for fossil fuels and reduction in CO2 intensity of other use of fossil fuel energy
- New forms of lifestyle and entrepreneurship – according to motto: using instead of owning
- Professionalism in planning and investment as well as in the operation of buildings and facilities.
The vision is feasible. This is substantiated by researchers at ETH and other institutes. They project the extensively unexhausted efficiency and substitution potential based on the entire existing infrastructure in Switzerland – giving precise consideration to the pace of renewal. This results in a broad time horizon of 50 to over 100 years, within which the vision actually becomes reality in everyday life.
On February 25th 2008, the Energy Science Center of the ETH Zurich presented their energy strategies to the public. These raise climatic questions focused around the reduction of CO2-emissions. The ETH-domain's primary strategy of the "2000 Watt Society" is to lower energy usage, although the reduction of CO2 remains an essential goal. In certain areas, a common ground of existence between the two strategies can be found.
It is undisputed today that both energy usage as well as CO2-emissions must be greatly reduced. Along with the decrease of energy usage, answers regarding the finiteness and shortage of energy resources must be discovered, last but not least avoiding serious energy supply crises. In order to contain and prevent the climate change from reaching a catastrophic magnitude, the increase of the CO2-content in the atmosphere must be appropriately slowed down. Although the energy and CO2 questions form separate important, central and future challenges, they are closely related. The according measures overlap each other in wide areas and must be intertwined.
A massive reduction of fossil energy use is paramount. This occurs through an associated increase of energy efficiency in all areas of usage, as well as through amplified substitutions of fossil energy such as with CO2-neutral or minor CO2 emission levels. For this reason, the public is challenged to alter the usage of energy. All efficient, substitutive and affirmative measures must take into consideration the impact on both energy consumption and CO2-emissions. Therefore, due to the nature of the problem, a joint "Energy plus CO2 Reduction Strategy" is the only possible solution.
The visions of a "2000 Watt Society" and that of a "1 Ton CO2 Society" aren't in competition for the next 20 years, but instead are integral components of efforts for collective sustainable development. Long term, the two strategies have different priorities: comprehensive reduction of total energy usage respectfully forces reduction of the CO2-emissions to an attainable climatic goal. One of the biggest tasks of the upcoming years will be to further develop the strategies of sustainable development while mutually coordinating the varied objectives.
Once the answers concerning the challenges of sustainable development are found, significant achievements concerning research and development within the ETH-domain will be rendered possible. In order for the obtained knowledge and technologies to become beneficial, utilized and dispersed, the project entitled "Novatlantis" was brought to life eight years ago. Novatlantis is supported collectively by the ETH in Zürich and Lausanne as well as the four research institutions, benefiting from the knowledge derived out of research in the ETH domain concerning the implementation of concrete measures for sustainable actions. In the foreground stand resources and minimally invasive technologies that together with partners from the sciences, the economy, public authorities and politics are implemented and dispersed. Special attention is paid to the diligent usage of energy. It is in this area that Novatlantis orientates itself around the vision of a 2000-Watt-Society. This stands as a metaphor for the objective; to enable future-oriented development of our society through considerably reduced energy use and drastically reduced CO2 emissions.
