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Despite governments adopting policies to reduce dependence on oil, fossil fuels are expected to remain the world’s dominant energy source through 2035, according to by the International Energy Agency.

If world governments act on their current policy commitments and plans for energy efficiency and pursuit of renewable energy, world energy demand is expected to increase by 36 percent between 2008 and 2035, according to the report.

Though renewable and nuclear power will make a larger share of the energy mix by 2035, the report said that oil will remain the leading fuel, followed by coal. Renewable energy’s share in total energy demand will increase from 7 percent to 14 percent between 2009 and 2035.

While international commitments to reduce green house gases will help somewhat, the policies currently in place are inadequate to stop global temperature increases, said executive director of the International Energy Agency Nobuo Tanaka in a statement. Under current conditions, global temperatures will increase by 3.5 degrees Celsius in the long term, Tanaka said.

“Renewable energy can play a central role in reducing carbon-dioxide emissions and diversifying energy supplies, but only if strong and sustained support is made available,” Tanaka said in the statement. “We need to use energy more efficiently and we need to wean ourselves off fossil fuels by adopting technologies that leave a much smaller carbon footprint”.

In 2009, government support of renewable was at $57 billion, a number that will increase to $205 billion by 2035. In comparison, fossil fuel subsidies amounted to $312 billion in 2009. In closing, Tanaka said elimination of fossil fuel subsidies is the most effective tactic at hand to cut energy demand in countries where demand for oil continues.