Time to ditch our dirtiest addiction
Our addiction to fossil fuels is risking nothing less than life on earth. As if that wasn’t enough, our reliance on coal, oil and gas undermines our ability to stand up to aggressive regimes. With prices soaring, these dangerous fuels aren’t even cheap. We already have a way out — it’s time we took it.
Switching to clean energy was always sensible. Now it’s a no-brainer. Renewable power generated by the sun and wind doesn’t emit harmful greenhouse gases that cause global warming. It also frees nations of relying on foreign fuel imports. And, after initial investments, the costs are low.
We know the stakes couldn’t be higher. The climate emergency is already here. Our planet has already warmed by around 1.2 degrees, and the devastating effects are everywhere. Climate disasters forced 30 million people to flee their homes in 2020 — three times more than the number displaced by war and violence.
There is much worse to come if we fail to limit warming to within 1.5 degrees. This week, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued the world with a final warning, with the world’s top climate scientists saying we must act “now or never” to secure a liveable future on the planet.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that “litany of broken promises” had put the world on a “fast track to climate disaster” — a planet ravaged by unbearable heat, rising seas, deadly storms, water shortages, and mass extinction. The science is clear, he added, we are “sleepwalking into climate catastrophe.”
But we are distracted. Just as we reach this critical juncture, multiple geopolitical shocks are undermining our resolve to tackle emissions. Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused turmoil on global energy markets, sending major economies scrambling to replace gas as prices soar and threats are made over supply.
The crisis has seen many nations backtracking in the wrong direction, falling back on coal — the most polluting of all fossil fuels — to meet energy needs. This quick and dirty fix is driving global energy-related carbon emissions to record highs, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
We can’t afford this misstep. Our window of opportunity to stave off the worst outcomes is closing. The 1.5 degree goal remains just within our grasp. Reverting to coal is tantamount to abandoning it. It’s not too late, but we must act now. And we really have our work cut out.
On current commitments, carbon emissions are projected to climb by almost 14% this decade, with most of that down to coal burning. Governments are reneging on pledges, even as the world hurtles towards tipping points that could trigger cascading and permanent damage to our only home.
The IPCC says global temperatures will stabilise when carbon emissions reach net zero. To keep 1.5 alive, emissions must fall by 45% by 2030, and we must achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century. If we triple the speed of the energy transition, and shift investments from dirty fuels to clean, we still have a chance.
The UN has been resolute in calling for change. We have no choice but to urgently phase out coal and massively increase investment in renewables. We must come together to do so, with a global coalition of wealthier countries and global finance helping nations make the switch to clean energy.
Going green makes economic sense too. The cost of renewables have plummeted, making solar now the cheapest electricity source in history. And the benefits don’t end there. A recent US study suggested renewables could help avoid blackouts, create millions of jobs, and improve public health.
One thing is clear from recent events. Our addiction to fossil fuels makes us more vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. The IEA says there will be more turbulence to come unless we fix the broken global energy mix. The current crises must drive us forward into a carbon free future.
The case for renewables has never been stronger. They can help secure our energy supply, free us from our dependence on aggressors, and protect economies from global shocks. We have the power to regain control. We have the power to secure the future of life on earth. The time to do so is now.
