Renewable energy has seen considerable growth in recent years, but there is a long way to go to achieve a clean energy future that averts the worst effects of the climate crisis
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Credit: Amanda Montañez; Source: International Energy Agency
Credit: Amanda Montañez; Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
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Humanity is at a crossroads in choosing the way we will power our future. Depending on what electricity infrastructure we build now, we could lock in still more decades of planet-warming emissions, or we could lay a solid foundation for a clean energy future and stave off the climate emergency''s worst effects.
Dean Visser has worked as Scientific American''s Chief News Editor for more than seven years, coordinating daily and long-term coverage of milestone stories including the discovery of gravitational waves, the COVID pandemic, the psychology of political polarization, and the evolution of psychedelic medicine. Before that he spent 25 years as a foreign correspondent and wire service News Editor in Asia, where he covered environmental issues, political news, disasters such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and the region''s rapid industrial and technological development.
Renewable energy is the only credible path forward if the world is to avert a climate catastrophe, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday, outlining a five-point plan for a just transition.
"Only renewables can safeguard our future, close the energy access gap, stabilize prices and ensure energy security," he said in a video message to the 13th Session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, taking place this weekend in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
"Together, let''s jumpstart a renewables revolution and create a brighter future for all."
The world is still addicted to fossil fuels and the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is fast slipping out of reach, the UN chief warned.
"Under current policies, we are headed for 2.8 degrees of global warming by the end of the century. The consequences will be devastating. Several parts of our planet will be uninhabitable. And for many, this is a death sentence," he said.
Renewable energy sources currently account for about 30 per cent of global electricity.
Mr. Guterres said this must double to over 60 per cent by 2030, and 90 per cent by mid-century.
His Five-point Energy Plan first calls for removing intellectual property barriers so that key renewable technologies, including energy storage, are treated as global public goods.
Countries also must diversify and increase access to supply chains for raw materials and components for renewables technologies, without degrading the environment.
"This can help create millions of green jobs, especially for women and youth in the developing world," said Mr. Guterres.
The Secretary-General urged decisionmakers to cut red tape, fast-track approvals for sustainable projects worldwide and modernize power grids.
His fourth point focused on energy subsidies. He stressed the need to shift from fossil fuels to clean and affordable energy, adding "we must support vulnerable groups affected by this transition."
The final point highlighted how public and private investments in renewables should triple to at least $4 trillion dollars a year.
Noting that most investments in renewables are in developed countries, the Secretary-General urged countries to work together to reduce the capital cost for renewables and ensure that financing flows to those who need it most.
Multilateral development banks must also invest massively in renewable energy infrastructure, he added, while richer nations must work with credit agencies to scale up green investments in developing countries.
The President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, underlined how success in climate protection depends on the transition to clean energy.
"But the energy transition we have foreseen was a peace time agenda," he said in a pre-recorded message. "How will it work in times of major political confrontations when energy supplies are turned into a tool of conflict?"
Although setbacks might occur in the short term, along with a probable rise in the greenhouse gas emissions that drive global warming, Mr. Kőrösi pointed to the long-term benefits of green energy.
"If we look into the investment trends, the long-term impact of the conflict might be the opposite. From solar to wind, wave, and geothermal, renewable energy sources are available for every climate. Their use has a potential of strengthening energy sovereignty," he said.
They include investing in scientific tools of measurement, creating a follow-up mechanism to assess progress, removing intellectual property barriers, and bolstering partnerships for sustainable energy initiatives.
"We are in a desperate race against time. We need bold transformative action to curtail climate change," he said. "We have the knowledge. We have the means. We should only have the will."
Water can be a "dealmaker" for stability and cooperation as well as for the implementation of theSustainable Development Goals, speakers from the co-hosts of the upcomingUN 2023 Water Conferencesaid on Friday.
The Earth''s ozone layer is on track to recover within four decades, a UN-backed panel of experts said on Monday.
Coal, oil, and natural gas are major conventional energy sources in the world but limited in amount. However, these sources create several environmental and health impacts during energy extraction processes. Coal mining and exploration, transportation, energy/electricity generation processes cause negative environmental externalities. Notably, electricity generation from coal alone emits approximately 60% of the global CO2, which has been projected as 36.4 GtCO2 in 2016. This scenario would be more challenging for developing nations to balance the increasing economic and industrial growth along with climate change issue. Therefore, alternative energy resources are recommended for the sustainable modern society to fulfill global energy demand with minimum environmental impacts.
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