IEA: Half of global energy has to come from renewable sources

If carbon emissions are to be halved by 2050, half of the planet's energy sources must be from renewable sources by then, it has been claimed.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the changes need to be made in order to reduce the effects of carbon emissions on the environment.

Advising developed countries on their energy strategies, the IEA has launched a new study entitled Deploying Renewables: Principles for effective policies.

Speaking at the launch in Berlin, executive director of the organisation Nobuo Tanaka told attendees that satisfying these "ambitious objectives" will "require unprecedented political commitment and effective policy design and implementation".

He continued: "Only a limited number of countries have implemented effective support policies for renewables and there is a large potential for improvement."

Last week it was reported that Japan signed an agreement with the Czech Republic aiming to buy some of its emissions credits in a bid to reach its carbon reduction goals by 2012.