Renewable energy as one of the solutions to the climate crisis towards a sustainable world

Renewable energy as one of the solutions to the climate crisis towards a sustainable world 

Photo: Solar energy project in Tanzania for promoting renewable energy access in Africa

http://www.energetica-international.com/news/rec-sponsored-solar-panels-for-two-social-projects-in-tanzania

Renewable energy still remains unused are most of the countries as a source of energy despite it being the solution to combat climate change. Most of the energy comes from non-renewable sources like coal. It still remains the top choice to produce energy. Unless we give renewable energy a serious thought, the problem of energy crisis cannot be solved. Renewable energy sources can reduce our dependence onfossil fuelsand also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-solutions-to-the-global-energy-crisis.php). The solution to the climate crisis is a transition to 100% renewable energy for all by 2050, in a bid to move towards a universally accessible, affordable, and zero emissions energy system (http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/briefings/climate/COP21/The%20solution%20to%20the%20climate%20crisis.pdf).

The increased use of renewable energies helps in mitigating climate change effects.
Climate change mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energies, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behaviour (http://www.unep.org/climatechange/mitigation/).

A practical example of renewable energy being used is in the United State of America whereby more than 50% of U.S. states have adopted a renewable electricity standard—a policy that requires electricity suppliers to gradually increase their use of renewable energy such as wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy in a bid to reduce CO2 and other unhealthy air emissions at the same time alleviating the harmful impact that fossil fuel extraction, transport, and use have on land and water resources (http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/renewable-energy.html#.V_fLifl97IU). Renewable energy sources have potential to mitigate the climate change crisis since no greenhouses gases are emitted, unlike in electricity production from coal powered plants accounts which produce approximately 25% of total U.S. global warming emissions (http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/public-benefits-of-renewable.html#.V_fPKfl97IV).

References

http://www.energetica-international.com/news/rec-sponsored-solar-panels-for-two-social-projects-in-tanzania

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-solutions-to-the-global-energy-crisis.php

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/renewable-energy.html#.V_fLifl97IU

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/briefings/climate/COP21/The%20solution%20to%20the%20climate%20crisis.pdf

http://www.unep.org/climatechange/mitigation/

About the author

Dr. Mercy Manyuchi ’s main focus is on Climate Change Effects and Sustainability and is involved in conducting Environmental Impact Assessment as well as Green Technologies that compact climate change. As a Chemical Engineer, Mercy also focuses on sustainable technologies that look at combatting climate change.