So long fossil fuels and hello clean energy.
With everything going on in today’s world regarding the COVID-19 health crisis, its easy to lose track of the other goals we are trying to work towards. The pandemic has caused a slip in a number of areas in our society like the economy, air pollution, and government policy to name a few. We must continue to focus on the previous issues as well as the current one if we are to progress as a society.
As we recover economically from the effects that the pandemic has had, many people do not have the financial means to stop using fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy sources. Peter Glenn, an advocate for zero emissions energy at EV Life, goes into detail about what happens to communities who still rely on non-renewable energy and what should be done to reduce our impact on the environment. Glenn proposes a number of solutions to energy related pollution and how they fit with a plan to recover from the pandemic. In his article, he says, “As we create policy and an economic stimulus to recover from COVID-19, let’s not let these lessons go to waste. We should invest in clean air and clean jobs, with a response that is proportional to the number of lives we can save” (Glenn, 2020). In other words, as we economically recover from the pandemic, it is in our best interest to invest in renewable energy sources to create jobs and save lives. We cannot continue to fall back on traditional energy sources that cause damage to the environment if we want to keep people healthy.
Right now, the COVID-19 pandemic likely the number one problem for a majority of people worldwide due to how it changed their lives. Glenn’s article emphasizes this point as well as the benefits that investing in clean and sustainable energy will have as the economy reboots. He says, “Doing so will reduce air pollution deaths and create jobs in one of the already fastest growing sectors for job creation. These are achievable, economy-growing, and life-saving opportunities” (Glenn, 2021). Investing in clean energy will eventually lead to a healthier environment to reduce health problems related to pollution as well as creating opportunities for those who might not have a job.
As we begin our process of global health and economic recovery, it is very necessary to start getting rid of non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels and oil and transition to cleaner energy sources such as solar power and hydroelectric. Not only will it reduce the amount of pollution we produce, but also create new jobs for those seeking employment.
Glenn P. (2020, April 21). Air pollution kills far more than COVID-19. Will Our Response Be Proportionate? Medium. https://medium.com/@PeterJGlenn/air-pollution-now-plain-as-day-kills-more-than-covid-19-ever-will-edec4f1203e9
