Prague, 07/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - US economist Jeremy Rifki,n set out his vision of the “third industrial revolution” for researchers, scientists and engineers at the opening ceremony of the research conference in Prague on Thursday 7 May. He gave them the following piece of advice: “The great economic revolutions take place when humans change the energy regime and the communication system on which the economic system is based”. Admitting that he was impressed by European diversity, he said that “it is in Europe that the journey to another planet” began, in particular with the 20-20-20 plan launched by the EU. The ground work for a four-pillared structure laid by the EU traced the path of this third industrial revolution: - production of renewable energy; - storing renewable energy in the form of hydrogen; - energy efficiency of buildings (the aim is to turn every building into an electricity power plant, Rifkin said); - ICT allowing energy to be redistributed throughout the world.
“Using the same principle as the internet, we could integrate electricity into a global digital network coordinating all energy production and distribution centres,” he said. The technological revolution, however, will not happen without “billions and billions of dollars” being injected by states into R&D. Rifkin and the Commission agreed that climate change and energy were “the two main challenges to be met” (assuming collective responsibility) hence the mutual satisfaction at the conclusion of the Transatlantic Partnership. EU member states will now have to come to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December with a genuine economic plan in order to change diversity into opportunity, was Kifkin's conclusion. (Y.P./transl.rt)