Energy: the next fifty years ; [an OECD Forum for the Future Conference, held in co-operation with the International Energy Agency (IEA) in July 1998, in Paris]

How Long Will Conventional Fossil Fuels Remain The Predominant Source Of Energy? Does Nuclear Power Have A Future? What New Energy Technologies Are Emerging On The Horizon? What Are The Implications Of The Growing Role Played By Developing Countries As Producers And Users Of Energy? What Can Be Done To Avoid International Energy Crises In The Future? How Will The Information Society Affect The Production And Use Of Energy? And What Will Be The Long-term Implications Of International Environmental Agreements For A Sustainable Energy Future? Endeavours To Set World Energy On A Sustainable Footing Are Entering A Critical Phase. By 2050 The Energy Landscape Could Be Completely Transformed. A Highly Diversified Mix Of Conventional And New Fuels Will Be In Use; Unprecedented Levels Of Energy Efficiency In Transport Systems, Housing And Other Infrastructures Will Likely Have Been Attained; And People Could At Last Be Reaping The Rewards Of Environmentally Responsible Lifestyles. But Such A Shift Towards Sustainable Use Of Energy Will Take Decades To Achieve. This Book Reviews The Options Likely To Shape The Energy Picture Over The Next Half-century, And Assesses Some Of The Key Issues -- Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental -- That Decision-makers In Government And Corporations Will Need To Address In The Very Near Future. Ch. 1. The Long-term Future For Energy : An Assessment Of Key Trends And Challenges / Reza Lahidji, Wolfgang Michalski, And Barrie Stevens -- Ch. 2. World Energy Prospects To 2020 : Issues And Uncertainties / Jean-marie Bourdaire -- Ch. 3. Global Energy Perspectives : 2050 And Beyond / Arnulf Grübler -- Ch. 4. Towards A Sustainable Energy Future / Dieter M. Imboden And Carlo C. Jaeger -- Ch. 5. Energy Demand Patterns Towards 2050 / Martin Bekkeheien ... [et Al.] -- Ch 6. Systems Options For Sustainable Development / Chihiro Watanabe -- Annex : List Of Participants. Papers Presented At An Oecd Forum For The Future Conference Held In Cooperation With The International Energy Agency (iea) In Paris, France, July 1998. Includes Bibliographical References.