The need for countries around the globe to adopt environmentally friendly alternative energy sources is becoming apparent in the bid limit the impact of global warming. A variety of sources are now available for use and governments are offering consumers incentives to adopt cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative energy sources.

Governments around the globe are embracing alternative energy sources in an effort to combat global warming.

In wake of the Cph Denmark summit nations have pledged a variety of cuts to their emission levels which will require a renewed focus on alternative energies to meet their pledged commitments.

Before the summit China announced voluntary reduction targets of 40-45 per cent. The United States has agreed to curb emissions resulting in a decrease of 17 percent by 2020. The U.K will reduce to 20 per cent and India has proposed cuts between 20 and 25 per cent by 2020.

Whilst there are no binding agreements there is an increasing effort by the international community to curb emissions and embrace alternative energy sources.

Governments are now working alongside business to offer alternative energies to households at subsidized prices. In order to reach emission targets the effort will be based upon a range of methods aimed at both big business and households alike.

There has been an increased effort in developed nations to cut emissions by educating consumers to decrease their own power consumption.

With the advent of new technology offering power saving appliances, rebates for alternative energy sources and an increasing awareness of the effects of global warming consumers are now looking toward alternative energies as a cheap and effective way to meet their power needs.

Many governmentare offering discounte to business and individuals in an effort to achieve a shift by consumers toward alternative energy sources.

There are a vast amount of alternative energy sources available for use. The effectiveness of each source differs with location.

Wind, Solar and Hydro power have been used for some time and as new sources become readily available for the public such as geothermal energy power consumption will increasingly be made up from these sources.

European nations are capitalizing on wind energy to try and decrease their green house emissions. Denmark now produces 20 per cent of its energy through wind power and Spain and Germany are also avid users.

In the United States a diverse range of alternative energy is being taken advantage of including wind, solar, geothermal and nuclear power.

China is in the construction of vast hydro power stations to meet the countries power needs.

As technology progresses and alternative energy sources including geothermal, and bio mass energy are developed the effectiveness of alternative energy sources to meet most of the worlds energy needs will become a reality.