TEHRAN (Iran News) – The transformation of the global energy system could be derailed as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause economic and social damage, the World Economic Forum warned Wednesday in an annual energy transition report.
In its report titled “Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2020: from crisis to rebound,” the forum said that the global energy transition from carbon fuels to climate-friendly energy sources has been moving at a slow but steady pace.
The ETI benchmarks 115 countries on the current performance of their energy system and their readiness for the energy transition. “Of the 115 countries … 94 corresponding to more than 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions have improved their scores since 2015,” the report said, according to Xinhua news agency.
However, the economic development and growth of energy transition are currently being challenged by COVID-19, the forum cautioned.
“Beyond the uncertainty over its long-term consequences, COVID-19 has unleashed cascading effects in real-time,” including the erosion of almost a third of global energy demand, oil price volatilities and geopolitical implications, delayed or stalled investments and projects, and uncertainties over the employment prospects in the sector, the report said.
Yesterday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a UN Economic and Social Council video briefing the original thinking two months ago was that it may take 12 to 18 months for a vaccine
- source : Tasnim, Irannews
