About 40 countries already have schemes to switch from incandescent light bulbs, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report issued on the sidelines of UN climate talks in Cancún.
Generation of electricity for lighting, often from burning fossil fuels, accounts for about 8% of world greenhouse gas emissions, it said. A shift to more efficient bulbs would cut electricity demand for lighting by 2%.
A review of 100 nations showed huge potential for savings and carbon cuts from a shift to low-energy bulbs, according to a study backed by UNEP and lighting groups Osram and Philips.
Indonesia, for instance, could save $1bn a year and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 8m tonnes a year, the equivalent of taking 2m cars off the road, it said.
It said Brazil could save $2bn a year, Mexico $900m, Ukraine $210m and South Africa $280m. All would also deliver big cuts in emissions. Read the full report here.
Source: Reuters, guardian.co.uk.
