Approximately 60% of the world’s electricity and heating is generated by fossil fuels (such as coal or natural gas). This means that this sector is the single biggest polluter, responsible for about one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. |
According to the Exponential roadmap we can limit global warming to +1.5 degrees Celsius if we follow the ‘carbon law’ and halve global emissions every decade. The roadmap shows that we can reach that first half in reductions by 2030, by simply scaling existing solutions. For the energy market the key solutions mentioned are solar power, wind power and energy storage.
The good news is that the world has already reached a tipping point in price and performance for wind and solar power. In many places wind and solar are cheaper than the fossil fuel alternatives. If the growth of wind, solar and energy storage continues at the best of the rates seen early on, the world’s energy emissions are on track to halve by 2030.
To ensure this happens, we as ‘energy consumers’ can play an important part by using our purchasing power for good.The most significant action we can take is to start producing our own clean electricity, e.g. by adding solar panels onto the roofs of our houses.
However, if your housing situation doesn’t allow for that, the second best solution is to compare the options from different utility providers in your community and select an electricity contract with 100% renewable energy certificates (RECs). This ensures that the electricity you use is powered by renewables and that it financially supports the shift away from power generation using fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas.
Source – The Climate Calculator
