ISLAMABAD, May 2: Highlighting the importance of alternative energy efficient technologies, experts on Monday called for more awareness on how the climate change is going to affect every aspect of life.

Speaking at a seminar on climate change, they also sought more information on use of energy efficient devices, cut in fossil fuel consumption, and reduction in greenhouse emission. The seminar was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

Experts discussed climate change as a global phenomenon likely to impact almost every sector of Pakistan’s economy. They said fossil fuel was the key energy provider, accounting to around 90 per cent of the world energy needs, but the demand and usage of alternative resources was growing fast.

Munawar A Sheikh of Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technology informed the participants about renewable energy products by the council, including Silicon wafer, solar cells, PV modules, solar light, lanterns, biogas and hydel energy interventions.

He said the council was planning to enhance wind and solar energies to five per cent of installed resources in Pakistan by 2020.

Dr Mahmood A Khawaja, an advisor of SDPI, said as 86 per cent of world’s energy is produced through petrol and natural gas, greenhouse gases are the major source of climate change. He said surface warming, heat waves, droughts, floods and salinity are some of the climate change outcomes.

Col Rashid Iqbal Ansari, deputy commandant EME, called for finding alternative means of energy production. He said energy supply deficit ratio stands at 25 per cent in 2010. “If proper measures are not adopted it would shoot to 54 per cent in 2020,” he estimated, calling the scenario “an energy death for Pakistan”.

He was not hopeful about the prospects of renewable energy, saying it was only two per cent of the installed capacity in Pakistan. “With current progress it will only improve to three per cent in 2020.”

He was also concerned about not implementing the measures suggested in the power generation policy of 2002, like exemption of income tax and wavier from various duties, for increasing renewable energy.

Ahmed Nadeem Siddiqui, director National Institute of Electronics Project, compared the energy efficiency of ordinary bulb, energy saver, LED composed efficient energy bulbs. He was of the view the Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) has power efficiency of above 80 per cent compared to mercury bulb, which when broken emits hazardous and toxic mercury vapours, and an ordinary energy saver.