Energy: The First Step in a Sustainable Society

Adrienne
Dec 28, 2020
2 min read

Energy is a major hurdle that must be cleared in the journey to reduce carbon emissions.

Our fossil-fuel-powered energy grid is a major source of carbon emissions: 27% of U.S. emissions come from burning fossil fuels to power electric plants; another 28% comes from the oil-powered transportation sector. Transitioning electric power generation to renewable sources like wind and solar could put an enormous dent in emissions.

When we look at the global picture, the story is similar - we generate a tremendous amount of emissions from energy use in buildings, and road vehicles generate the lion's share of emissions in the transportation sector. Take a look at the chart below, which gives us a more definitive look at where emissions come from. Energy use generates nearly three-quarters of global emissions! With this knowledge, it's easy to understand why energy should be among our first priorities in creating a more sustainable society.

The good news: Our transition to renewable energy is not a question of "should we?"; it's a question of "how fast?"

Among many experts in the field, it is a foregone conclusion that we will eventually be entirely powered by renewable sources. The issue is whether we make this transition happen fast enough to stave off irreversible climate damage - a "tipping point" that comes closer and closer each year - or whether we stick to fossil fuels until they finally run out and we're forced to convert.

Listen: How to Save a Planet, Episode 2: "The Witch of Wind"

There are many hopeful signs that the transition to renewables will happen quickly, possibly in time to avoid permanent damage to the planet. In addition, recent technological advances are solving some of the problems that had previously challenged the transition.

These hopeful indicators include, but are not limited to:

Improved battery technology has enabled the construction of large-scale storage for intermittent shortages and increased affordability of electric vehicles
Solar energy has become cheaper than both natural gas and coal (wow!) due to tech improvements and wider availability
Consumer and business sentiment research show strong support for a broader movement to renewable energy sources
The election of Joe Biden in the United States - Biden's platform promises to put the US on track to net-zero emissions by 2050
The EU's Green Deal, which aims for climate neutrality throughout the bloc by 2050
Progress in China: while China generates about 28% of the world's emissions, it is taking meaningful steps, including the creation of a national carbon market in 2017 and a goal of carbon neutrality by 2060
In 2020, oil companies in Europe and North America devalued $145 billion (!!) in assets, due to lower demand from the pandemic and an expectation that demand will wane further as renewables grow in scale (WSJ)

The renewable energy wave is coming, there's no doubt. How can you support a faster transition to a renewable energy grid? Here are some ways to get started: