Global Energy Assessment (GEA)

© GEA

Coordinated by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), GEA was led by some of the world's leading energy experts in research, academia, business, industry and policy, representing both the developed and the developing world. GEA is the first ever fully integrated energy assessment that analyzes energy challenges, opportunities and strategies, for developing, industrialized and emerging economies. It is supported by government and non-governmental organizations, the United Nations Systems, and the private sector.

• Cluster I: Major global issues and energy (regional, national and international challenges).
• Cluster II: Energy resources and technological options (assessment of the components available to build future energy systems).
• Cluster III: Describing possible sustainable futures.
• Cluster IV: Realizing energy for sustainable development (assessment of the policies needed to address the challenges).

The Assessment was subjected to rigorous and independent analysis and review.

The Final Report:

The GEA final report was launched during Rio+20, and is available for purchase here from Cambridge University Press. A copy of the GEA Summary Document is available online. 

Objectives:

The GEA provides policy-relevant analysis and guidance to governments and intergovernmental organizations, decision-support material to the commercial sector (energy service companies, investors and others), and analysis relevant to academic institutions. It provides technical guidance for implementing measures aimed at mitigating climate change and sustainable consumption of resources, for example the GEA:

• proposes a portfolio of policies addressing global energy challenges;
• addresses climate change mitigation targets as outlined by the UNFCCC and other GHG mitigation initiatives;
• evaluates future commitments to the reduction of GHGs, for example, to levels 20+ percent below 1990-levels by 2020 and 50+ percent by 2050, and negative emissions before 2100; and
• examines resource and technology options and policies needed to achieve such targets.