The three key actions that might shift the global climate change crisis

Whether we want to think about it or not, resolving the climate crisis doesn’t all come down to technology, nor does it rely on financial responsibility. What it does rely on is the ability to act now.

Recently, energy company Ørsted listed a number of ways the world could commit to increasing the global share of renewable energy. They noted that immediate action is required to stay within the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius across the globe.

So how exactly do we aim for that?

The current goal

The most recent objective on a global scale is to drop carbon emissions by half before 2030. We must reach net-zero by 2050 if we’re to avoid a climate change crisis that’s deemed catastrophic.

A primary part of solving this challenge is the obvious action of replacing fossil fuels, which are currently responsible for more than 73 per cent of global emissions. We must move to capture and utilise energy from both the sun and wind – something Australia has had a keen eye on for a number of years now.

CEO of Ørsted Henry Poulsen said that transforming fossil fuels to green energy is no longer just a question, it’s a must-do if we are to combat this rising risk.

“It is about having the ambition and will to make the necessary decisions sooner rather than later,” he said in a recent white paper.

But transforming this energy requires the development of green power twice as fast as we currently are, and the need to triple the speed at which we are closing coal-fired power plants. Green energy share must increase dramatically across the globe, allowing for the increase in energy efficiency.

The three key actions we need to take

 

  • Phase-out fossil fuels with green energy: Wind and solar are cheaper than ever in comparison to fossil fuels, and this is the case for approximately two-thirds of the world. Green energy can be used by sectors that have traditionally relied on fossil fuels. 
  • Speed up the development of green power: From solar PV to wind and other renewables, the build-out rate of these technologies needs to be increased rapidly. We’re developing, but not fast enough.
  • Increase speed of fossil fuel elimination: To stay within 1.5 degrees Celsius, remaining on fossil fuels is not an option. Coal-fired plants are incredibly uneconomical, and the operating costs are far beyond that of renewable sources. These operating costs are also expected to rise by 2030.

 

All of this combined would also require the action from all parties – from the government through to corporate and the general community. We must act as one, not as silos.

RELATED: Australia’s path to generate 200% of energy requirements from renewables by 2050

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