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Clean energy for a living planet
100 percent renewable energy is possible by 2050. A world without oil spills. A world without tailing ponds. A world without humans altering the chemistry and livelihood of the oceans from climate change. What are we waiting for?
Posted by Zoë Caron
Shifting our energy sources from coal and oil to renewable energy is the most immediate, large-scale available solution to climate change, next to energy efficiency and conservation.
WWF worked with an expert energy consultancy (Ecofys) in detail over the past two years, to find out just how the world could do this. The result was The Energy Report, which you can download here [PDF]. The first outcome of the research was that – yes – it is possible to do this. The second outcome was that we can do this without relying on new technologies.
Half of this shift will be made through energy conservation and efficiency, and half through shifting to renewable energy. It’s not easy to visualize how this would actually be possible – it is, after all, an ambitious transition. But consider this:
If 0.3 percent of the Sahara desert was a concentrated solar plant, it would power all of Europe.
If we could harness 0.1 percent of the energy in the ocean, we could support the energy needs of 15 billion people.
Here in Canada, we are lucky to be getting so much of our energy from hydroelectricity. But we still largely depend on coal for energy and oil for fuel. And while we haven’t yet run out of coal, oil, gas, we certainly have run out of time in the face of human-caused climate change. The risks we run of continuing with business as usual is losing a third of land species to extinction.
Achieving this transition in Canada requires investment in conservation and efficiency; transition to renewable, sustainable energy; and reform for transportation and urban design. Canada is well placed to make these changes with its abundant renewable energy potential and being one of the most urbanized countries in the world. “To protect the future of our planet, these are the steps we need to take,” as our President and CEO Gerald Butts put it.
As we get ready for our Earth Hour campaign, we will be profiling provinces across Canada to show which ones have made the move to renewable energy and which ones still need our love and support to get there. We’ll also profile what the Canadian government has done, and what they still need to decide on.
The good news? Canada is incredibly well-placed to lead on renewable energy. Our country has the choice to make clean, renewable energy a priority. It’s time to begin a dialogue that will move us forward. As our Director of Climate & Energy, Josh Laughren said, “I hope this changes the discussion away from what can’t be done to what can.”
Ten recommendations for a 100 percent renewable energy future:
- Clean Energy: promote most efficient products. Develop renewable energy to provide clean energy for all by 2050.
- Grids: Share and exchange clean energy through well designed electricity grids.
- Access: Energy for all people, and make it clean energy. Empower developing countries to lead.
- Money: Invest in renewable, clean energy, and efficient products and buildings (Will save $5.5 trillion / yr by 2050).
- Food: Stop food waste. Choose sustainably sourced food. Free up land for nature. Word to the wealthy: lay off meat.
- Materials: Reduce, re-use, recycle. Stop waste. Save energy. Develop durable materials. Avoid things we don’t need.
- Transport: Public transit incentives. Cut shipping distance. Electric cars. Develop alternative ship and plane fuels.
- Technology: Action plans for developing energy efficiency and renewable energy (national, bilateral and multilateral).
- Sustainability: Strict sustainability criteria to ensure renewable energy is in line with environmental goals.
- Agreements: Ambitious climate and energy treaty to direct global path on renewable energy and efficiency efforts.
4 Responses to Clean energy for a living planet
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Dear Zoe Caron;
I thought that you, as an expert, need to know about the newest development in alternative energy – as it would be embarrassing if on a live T.V. show an audience knew more about it than you.
The world’s newest innovation (announced only a few days ago) is producing alternative energy from graphene solar panels, in which the energy-producing components are made of inexpensive graphene sheets rather than pricey silicone (or other materials which happen to have a low efficiency).
As graphene is completely transparent, hundreds of these sheets are stacked over one another in a single panel, further reducing the final cost; therefore, a single graphene solar panel will replace the equivalent of a football field of contemporary solar panels – i.e. a sun roof (moon roof) panel allows a car to drive endlessly or a house to produce all its energy needs.
There are other applications in other fields as well e.g. in integrated circuits for computers, T.V. monitors, sensors etc.Regards,
Henry -
About time:) how about some wealthy executives put i dunno?, a little cash to help out? i dunno? mr gates perhaps, then we could all blog wirelessly about the projects progression on our new 4GS:))) Free energy engage!!!!! peace and love
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All well and good, however this will all cost money and we have seen what the impact of rolling out new technology has on our pocket books.
Hydro One will be increasing the cost of electricty by 45% in the next five years all to pay for new technolgies, yet they were recently able to achieve record profits. Record profits yet we have to pay the debt retirement as well as HST on that debt retirement.
We must stop allowing corporations to place the burden on the ‘everyman’ and force them instead to use their own funding.
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At WWF-Canada, we're passionate about climate, water and people. Follow us for the latest from Panda HQ.
Thanks Henry. Yes, organic solar cells are going through amazing developments indeed. I hadn’t heard of the graphene solar panels specificaly, so thank you.
Zoe
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