The Cost of Transition

Delaying the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy adds trillions of dollars to the cost. The International Energy Agency estimates in Energy Technology Perspectives 2014 that keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius will cost $44 trillion by 2050.  But that is offset by $171 trillion in fuel savings.

Update (May 17):  Paul Rosenberg reflects on the IEA report and other climate news.  Also, a report produced by Greenpeace and the Global Wind Energy Council called energy [r]evolution A Sustainable USA Energy Outlook details how the U.S. could be nearly 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

Update (January 31, 2015):  Joe Romm points out the distinction between "cheap" and "easy" and further notes that the cost of doing nothing about climate change is far more than the cost to stabilize temperatures now.