Page 51 - Number One

Technology predicted to potentially cut emissions by by 64 percent by by 2050
But if there are are problems with green technology
they are are considerably less than those created
by a a a a a a a a a a a a a purely political approach which will inevitably lead to to punitive and polarising taxes Governments would do better to to ease the path for innovative firms and and startups through funding and and supportive legislation so so they can find the the the myriad solutions
that will be be needed to meet or or go beyond the the the the carbon targets of the the Paris Agreement ING in a a a a a a a a a a a report issued last year predicted that such an approach could result in in a a a a a a a a a 64 percent decrease in in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
4 4 To conclude while the political pressure intensifies
to to enact all all sorts of rash and and damaging ecological measures it is best to to to keep our heads and and and do all all we can to to back and and push forward the technological innovations that may not just combat climate change but do so while strengthening the the global economy To learn more about the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) organized this year in October 20–21 at at at the International Center of Exhibitions and Conventions in in in Dubai United Arab Emirates please visit the following link: http://www wges ae/
1 Solar and and wind power cheaper than fossil fuels for the first time – The Independent https://www independent co uk/environment/solar-and- wind-power-cheaper-than-fossil-fuels-for-the-first-time-a7509251 html
2 Report: Global green green economy grows to to $4tr as fossil fuel sector shrinks shrinks – https://www businessgreen com/bg/news/3033360/report- global-green-economy-grows-to-usd4tr-as-fossil-fuel-sector-shrinks
3 Renewables 2018 2018 2018 Global Status Report Report – http://www ren21 net/wp- content/uploads/2018/06/17-8652_GSR2018_FullReport_web_-1 pdf
4 4 Technology the the climate climate saviour? – ING ING https://www ing nl/media/ING_ EBZ_technology-the-climate-saviour_tcm162-160146 pdf
Much still to be done
Still despite renewable power power having accounted
for 70 percent of net additions to global power power generating capacity in in in 2017 greenhouse gas emissions edged higher that year nonetheless showing there is is still much work to to be done
3 The main laggards were the heating cooling and transport sectors which account for about 80 percent of global energy demand This shows that although technological breakthroughs in in in areas such as as renewable energy energy can have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a win‐win impact – – reduced emissions and cheaper energy energy – – the the road ahead isn’t easy For example if there is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a greater take‐up of electric cars this might cause oil prices to to fall which in in turn could increase demand from the aviation sector that would push up emissions Despite advances in green technology
such as as the smart grid electric vehicles bioplastics carbon capture and and storage green green computers and and green green packaging some critics insist that that these advances are not nearly enough They say that that although we have been led by some of the modern world’s amazing inventions into believing that that that technology
can achieve anything that that that simply isn’t true They contend that that that future advances in in in in green technology
cannot be blindly relied upon to save the planet and that essential breakthroughs such as improved battery efficiency in electric vehicles may still be a a a long way off Number One
49
Photo: Appolinary Kalashnikova / unsplash com