Mankind has been struggling hard with the climate crisis for several years. Unfortunately, so far, through our own fault, we are pulling for a shorter end, which could soon have unavoidable and fatal consequences. If we realize the need to save our planet, it may not be too late.
The year 2021 could be a turning point and lead us to victory over the climate crisis. Much can change in the coming months, and as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, we are in a situation “now or never”. However, for these 5 reasons, we could go in the right direction.
In November 2021, world leaders will meet in Glasgow, Scotland, at a major climate conference, which will be a direct continuation of the 2015 Paris Conference. At that time, for the first time in history, states agreed on the need to fight the climate crisis together. By the Paris Climate Agreement, they have committed themselves to gradually reducing carbon emissions and to ensure that temperatures do not exceed by 2 degrees the average temperature from before the Industrial Revolution by the end of the century.
Other states are committed to achieving carbon neutrality
More and more countries are joining the important step towards carbon neutrality, which can make a vital contribution to combat the climate crisis. In September 2020, China was newly added to more than a hundred countries, responsible for up to 28% of all global emissions. The world’s most populated country wants to be carbon neutral by 2060. Many others, even earlier, consider the middle of this century to be the most realistic goal. Following the election of Joe Biden as president, the United States also returned to the Paris Climate Agreement.
Renewable energy is the cheapest energy ever
In October last year, the NGO International Energy Agency said that the best solar panels today offer the cheapest source of electricity in history. Renewable energy sources in general are also beginning to play an important role in the construction of new power plants, as they are often cheaper than the traditional fossil fuels that normally power them. If countries continue to invest in wind, solar or hydropower, high costs could lead to the complete decommissioning of existing coal-fired and thermal power plants over time, which has a negative impact on the environment.
Covid can help reduce emissions
The coronavirus pandemic, which affected the whole world, also had a significant impact on the economy. In response, many governments around the world are paying support to affected sectors to help them survive this difficult period. In addition, the European Union and the administration of the new US President Joe Biden have promised to restart their economies and fully start reducing carbon emissions thanks to so-called green investments with billions of dollars. Other countries, which are still lagging in this direction, also call for similar steps, as well as for more frequent use of renewable energy sources.
Businesses are switching to green energy
With the declining price of energy from renewable sources and the growing public interest in the environment, many global companies are also changing their approach. For objective reasons, they do not want to invest in fuel power plants, which may cease to exist in a few decades. At the same time, they want their activities to prove to investors and the public that they are taking important steps towards carbon neutrality. The impact of such steps can also be seen in world markets. While the values of Tesla’s electric vehicle shares skyrocketed last year, the values of oil and gas giant Exxon and others have plummeted.
There is more work to be done
While the above mentioned definitely shows that action has been taken, there is still more work to be done this year. Though many have given a commitment to saving energy and tackle climate change, the truth remains that more resources are needed for this to happen. In fact, most companies are not well equipped with strategies to decrease carbon emissions and strive for sustainability. But everything has to start somewhere – and if not now, then when?
This article was first published on Medium here.
Jakub Stafa is an IT auditor who started his career in IT security and moved forward to the role of an IT auditor with currently more than 8 years of professional experience. He is enthusiastic about new technology, green energy, and finance. Read his works on Medium.
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