United Nations advocates energy efficiency

Fighting climate change is not only ecologically green, it is also economically green, the head of United Nations’ environmental agency said in a statement marking the 10 anniversary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

According to Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), re-insurance agents estimated last year’s cost of climate-related disasters at $65 billion. "Then there are other economic impacts as a result of a continued, inefficient use of carbon-based fuels, including those on human health and habitats and ecosystems, like forests and lakes," he said.

Toepfer called on governments, corporations and citizens to channel their creativity and courage in creating new energy-efficient technologies that cause less environmental stress.