Middle East developing sustainable energyRecent research by the World Energy Council (WEC) revealed the top 10 countries in sustainable energy system performance -- the top 10 performing countries in order are Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Norway, Finland, New Zealand, Denmark, Japan, France and Austria. However, the WEC says that the Middle East could soon overtake other nations and become the global role model in developing sustainable energy. The research shows that the energy systems of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait lag behind nearly half of those in the rest of the world in terms of their ability to provide sustainable energy, but also demonstrates why the Middle East may soon emerge the world's leader in this area. The region is adopting many of the practical and interconnected steps -- security, affordability and environmental soundness -- required to achieve sustainable energy faster than many other nations. "The Middle East is well-positioned to take the lead in the global sustainable energy race that is about to reshape the world's energy landscape," says Oliver Wyman partner and a report author Mark Robson. "Most governments in the Middle East have set out aggressive plans for reaching sustainable energy goals over the next eight to 18 years, and they have the political leadership and financial resources to achieve them." Most of the region's countries improved their ability to provide sustainable energy last year as some of their new initiatives began to take hold. |