What the UN Climate Change Report Says about Solar and Clean Energy
Will making the shift to solar limit the effects of climate change?
The media has been all abuzz over the new climate change report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that was presented to the United Nations earlier this week.
The main takeaway — that global warming is rising at a faster rate than previously predicted, and we don’t have much time to act if we want to avoid serious, long-term consequences.
The report states that while human activities and carbon emissions are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming, “Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate.”
How much of an increase in temperature is too much of an increase?
Reaching a temperature increase of 1.5°C is much worse than 1.0°C, and if temperatures rose to 2.0°C, effects including rising temperatures and sea levels, extreme weather, probability of severe drought, and melting ice caps will only be worsened.
Climate change will have huge impacts on health, livelihood, economic stability, food security, and water supply.
How can global warming be reduced?
The report outlines different mitigation strategies that can achieve emissions reductions that would be required to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The chart below shows different scenarios that would play out if we made no change in carbon emissions; made some changes in carbon emissions; and achieved a net-zero status of emissions in the air.
How will renewables play a role in those strategies?
Investing in renewable energy will play a big part in limiting carbon emissions. The report states that pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C “would require rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, land, urban and infrastructure (including transport and buildings), and industrial systems.”
In those scenarios, renewables are projected to supply 70–85% of electricity in 2050.
The report is optimistic about technology improvements
The report cites technology improvements will make it easier to make these larger shifts to renewable energy. The report states, “While acknowledging the challenges, and differences between the options and national circumstances, political, economic, social and technical feasibility of solar energy, wind energy and electricity storage technologies have substantially improved over the past few years. These improvements signal a potential system transition in electricity generation.”
Are we doomed?
We will be if we don’t act fast.
Global leaders are going to need to rally together to do everything we can do to limit the amount of carbon emissions and at a quick enough pace that will make a difference.
What can we do?
Global efforts by world leaders will need to be made to have a powerful impact on reducing climate change. You can do your part at home by going solar. Find out how at Solarhood.com or by downloading the Solarhood app on the App Store or on Google Play.
