The World Energy Assessment (WEA) report is based on the premise that energy is an essential component of sustainable development of social and economic progress that meets the needs of both present and future generations. The report discusses the linkages between energy and economic, social, environmental, and security issues, and analyzes the contradictions between current patterns of use and objectives in these areas.

The WEA report also reviews energy resources and technology options from the point of view of sustainability, including better end-use efficiency, greater reliance on renewable sources of energy, and next-generation nuclear and fossil-fuel technologies. The report also examines plausible scenarios for combining various options to achieve a sustainable and relatively prosperous future scenario based more closely on current trends, which serves as a point of comparison. The report concludes by examining policy options for producing and using energy in ways that are compatible with sustainable development.

Nebojša Nakicenovic is convening lead author of Energy scenarios Chapter and a member of Editorial Board. An electronic version of the full report is available on the WEA Web site.