UNITED NATIONAL, 12/7 (IPS) – The only real path to energy security, stable electricity prices, prosperity and a livable planet lies in abandoning polluting fossil fuels and pushing accelerate the energy transition based on renewable energy. . Today, some leaders are doing worse. They are pouring fuel on the fire. Literally.
As the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spreads across the globe, some countries’ response to the growing energy crisis has been to double down on fossil fuels – pouring in billions of dollars more. into coal, oil and gas are worsening our climate emergency. .
Meanwhile, all climate indicators continue to break records, predicting a future of intense storms, floods, droughts, wildfires and unacceptable temperatures in swathes of land. vast on the planet.
Our world faces climate chaos. New funding for fossil fuel exploration and production infrastructure is illusory. Fossil fuels are not the answer, and never will be.
We can see the damage we are doing to our planet and society. It’s daily news, and no one is immune.
Fossil fuels are the cause of the climate crisis. Renewable energy is the answer – to limit climate change and increase energy security. Had we invested earlier and massively in renewable energy, we wouldn’t have found ourselves again at the mercy of the volatile fossil fuel market.
Renewable energy is the peace plan of the 21st century. But the battle for a swift and equitable energy transition is not played out on an equal footing. Investors are still favoring fossil fuels, and governments are still providing billions of dollars in subsidies for coal, oil and gas — about $11 million a minute.
The only real path to energy security, stable electricity prices, prosperity and a livable planet lies in abandoning polluting fossil fuels and accelerating the energy transition. on renewable energy.
To that end, I have called on G20 governments to dismantle coal infrastructure, with a phased out phase by 2030 for OECD countries and 2040 for all others.
I have urged financial institutions to abandon fossil fuel finance and invest in renewable energy. And I proposed a five-point plan to promote renewable energy around the world.
Five point plan
The first dayWe must make renewable energy technology a global public good, including by removing intellectual property barriers to technology transfer.
MondayWe must improve access to the global supply chain for renewable energy technology components and raw materials.
By 2020, the world has installed 5 gigawatts of storage batteries. We need 600 gigawatts of storage by 2030. Obviously, we need a global alliance to get there.
Transport bottlenecks and supply chain constraints, as well as higher costs for lithium and other battery metals, are hurting the deployment of such technologies and materials as soon as they become available. We need them most.
The third day, we have to cut the red tape that stops solar and wind projects. We need quick approvals and more work to modernize the grid. In the European Union, it takes 8 years to approve a wind farm and 10 years in the United States. In South Korea, onshore wind power projects require 22 permits from eight different ministries.
WednesdayThe world must shift energy subsidies from fossil fuels to protect vulnerable people from energy shocks and invest in a just transition to a sustainable future.
And Thursday, we need to triple our investment in renewable energy. This includes multilateral development banks and development financial institutions, as well as commercial banks. All must step up and step up investment in renewable energy.
We need more urgency from all global leaders. We’re close to hitting the 1.5°C limit that science tells us is the maximum amount of warming to avoid the worst climate effects.
To keep 1.5 alive, we must reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by mid-century. But current national commitments should lead to an increase of nearly 14% this decade. It was a disaster.
The answer lies in renewable energy – for climate action, for energy security, and for providing clean electricity to the hundreds of millions of people who currently lack it. Renewable energy is a triple win.
There is no reason for anyone to reject the renewable energy revolution. While oil and gas prices have hit record prices, renewables are getting cheaper and cheaper.
Solar and battery costs have fallen by 85% over the past decade. Wind energy costs have been reduced by 55%. And investing in renewable energy creates three times more jobs than fossil fuels.
Of course, renewable energy is not the only answer to the climate crisis. Nature-based solutions, such as stopping deforestation and land degradation, are needed. The same goes for efforts to promote energy efficiency. But a rapid renewable energy transition must be our ambition.
When we give up fossil fuels, the benefits will be huge, and not just for the climate. Energy prices will be lower and more predictable, with a positive impact on food security and the economy.
As energy prices rise, so does the cost of food and all the goods we rely on. So let’s all agree that a rapid renewable energy revolution is needed and let’s stop messing around while our futures burn.
Antonio GuterresFormer Prime Minister of Portugal, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Source: Innovation Africa, United Nations
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