"What is needed is nothing short of an energy revolution."

The International Energy Agency (IEA) acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries. On November 12, 2008, the IEA released its annual report, the World Energy Outlook 2008. The report states that current global trends are unsustainable and that we need an "energy revolution." The World Energy Outlook then outlines how this revolution can be achieved through "decisive policy action" and at what cost. It also describes the consequences of failure.

Here is the opening paragraph from the executive summary:

"The world's energy system is at a crossroads. Current global trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable – environmentally, economically, socially. But that can – and must – be altered; there's still time to change the road we're on. It is not an exaggeration to claim that the future of human prosperity depends on how successfully we tackle the two central energy challenges facing us today: securing the supply of reliable and affordable energy; and effecting a rapid transformation to low-carbon, efficient and environmentally benign system of energy supply. What is needed is nothing short of an energy revolution."

Purchase the entire report at IEA's homepage.