Oil major Royal Dutch Shell has unveiled two scenarios for how the 21st century could unfold, with different implications for the global energy market.
One sees cleaner-burning natural gas becoming the most important energy source globally by the 2030s, with early action to limit carbon-dioxide emissions. The other sees solar becoming the top source by about 2070 but with slower action to address the threat of climate change.
Shell chief executive Peter Voser said: “These scenarios show how the choices made by governments, businesses and individuals in the next few years will have a major impact on the way the future unfolds.
“They highlight the need for business and government to find new ways to collaborate, fostering policies that promote the development and use of cleaner energy, and improve energy efficiency.”