An alliance of academics, business leaders and policymakers has called on the world's heating and cooling, power and transportation sectors to make a wholesale switch to renewable energy.

The group launched its campaign this week at the Pathways To 100% Renewable Energy Conference in San Francisco as part of its efforts to build a consensus among a core of influential policymakers.

Stefan Schurig, director of climate and energy at the World Future Council, believes the world's dependence on non-renewable energy sources "is causing multiple existential global crises".

He said: "If human beings are to preserve modernity and planetary habitability, we must soon shift to 100% renewable energy in all sectors."

The World Future Council is a founding partner of the alliance along with Renewables 100 Policy Institute, World Wind Energy Association, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, DeENet and World Bioenergy Association.

In most cases so far the actions of politicians have been completely insufficient given the scale of the challenge, the alliance argues.

Stefan Gsänger, secretary general of World Wind Energy Association, says the technology is already there and it is cost-effective.

A high level of participation by citizens and the decentralisation of energy production are both needed to spur the change and local communities will then reap the benefits, according to the group.

Professor Eicke Weber, director of the Fraunhofer ISE and former professor at UC Berkeley, argues that developing the appropriate political framework and appetite for change is vital in successfully switching to 100% renewable energy.

The alliance believes that one method of achieving a successful transition is to develop networks between trailblazing countries so that best practice can be shared and the benefits become more widely known.

"I hope this campaign helps to facilitate this kind of dialogue so countries can learn from the invaluable experiences of frontrunner countries like Germany, Denmark and other countries in order to avoid wasting scarce resources," Professor Weber added.