Daniel Bosma | Moment | Getty ImagesExplorer and environmentalist Bertrand Piccard has called for a renewed focus on cutting energy waste, saying it's "hopeless" to shift to renewables without improving efficiency. "So if we try to replace fossil [fuel] energy with renewables without being efficient, without reducing the consumption, it's hopeless," he said. Another issue Piccard highlighted was that some countries only consider wind and solar as alternative renewable energy sources. Geothermal energy accounted for just 2.7% of renewable energy consumption, while wind power was 13.2% and solar energy was 7.2%. 'Paradox' of China's solar panel oversupplyPiccard also discussed the ongoing concerns about the potential oversupply of solar panels from China to the European market.

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Persons: Daniel Bosma, Bertrand Piccard, Piccard, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, bioenergy, Janet Yellen Organizations: CNBC, Solar Impulse, European Commission, Treasury Locations: Netherlands, Europe, China, U.S