Energy is an essential factor in the economic and social development of our society. It ensures the comfort of life for all, and powers all the technologies of modern society, particularly digital ones. Without energy, a modern city loses its means of communication, signalling, transport and heating, and can no longer function.
The progress made in the twentieth century was achieved through the use of an abundant, flexible and relatively inexpensive form of energy: oil
. However, the consumption of fossil fuels has a negative impact on the environment, and the risks involved have become increasingly worrying in recent years.
In the absence of appropriate measures, the greenhouse gas emissions that accompany growing energy consumption risk causing catastrophic climate change for the entire planet, the first effects of which are becoming increasingly perceptible. The need to limit the rise in average global surface temperature calls for an ambitious action plan.