Humans. Sometimes, we still live as hunter-gatherers. Considering it is not a bad action, we should use natural resources to continue our civilization. However, there are limited resources and endless demand from our side. One of the important factors is energy, after we discovered how to reserve and use it, it became an inseparable part of our lives. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal, gas + unsustainable bioenergy, waste-to-energy, and others are finite and damage the environment too. In this post, we will discuss why we should use renewable energy more.
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. Sunlight and wind, for example, are such sources that are constantly being replenished. Renewable energy sources are plentiful and all around us.
Why?
1. Renewable Energy is Abundant🎆
Yet, about 80% of the world, or 6 billion people, live in countries that import fossil fuels, making them vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. While renewable energy sources are a universal gift, their full potential remains untapped. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects that by 2050, renewable energy could and should power 90% of the world’s electricity.
2. Renewable Energy is Affordable🪙
Actually, Renewable energy is the cheapest option for most parts of the Earth. Due to technological advancements over a decade from 2010 to 2020, the cost of solar-powered electricity experienced a dramatic drop of 85%. Similarly, the costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56% and 48% respectively. By 2030, inexpensive electricity from renewable sources could constitute 65% of the world’s total electricity supply. By mid-century, it could decarbonize a staggering 90% of the power sector.
3. Healthier Alternative ❤️🩹
World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that nearly 99% of the global population is inhaling air that surpasses air quality limits, posing a significant threat to their health.
4. Fighting with Unemployment ⚒️
Investing in renewable energy is not just a step towards a sustainable future, but also a powerful job creation engine. For every dollar invested in renewables, it generates 3X more jobs than the fossil fuel industry. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects an optimistic employment landscape in the transition towards net-zero emissions. While fossil fuel production could see a loss of about 5 million jobs by 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs are expected to be created in the clean energy sector. This results in a net gain of 9 million jobs, painting a promising picture for the future of energy sector employment.
5. Economic Gain 📈
The economic and health impacts of fossil fuel usage are staggering. In 2018 alone, air pollution from fossil fuels racked up a bill of $2.9 trillion in health and economic costs, which equates to about $8 billion a day. But the financial toll doesn’t stop there. The fossil fuel industry received a whopping $5.9 trillion in subsidies in 2020, including explicit subsidies, tax breaks, and unaccounted health and environmental damages.
Contrast this with the investment needed for renewable energy. To reach net-zero emissions by 2050, an estimated $4 trillion per year needs to be invested in renewable energy until 2030. This includes investments in technology and infrastructure. When you consider the costs and benefits, it’s clear that investing in renewable energy is not just good for the planet, but also for our wallets.
Embracing renewable energy is not a luxury or a ‘nice-to-have’ – it’s an vital for our future. The long-term benefits are clear and compelling. So, let’s start promoting Renewable Energy and if possible adapting it to our daily lives. Today, we’ve delved into the reasons why renewable energy resources should be our go-to choice. I hope you found this discussion enlightening and enjoyable! Until next time, keep thinking green!
Have a nice day😊
4 replies on “Why Renewable Energy? 5 Reasons”
The future is green energy, sustainability, renewable energy.
Thanks Fatima, yes you are totally right, and we should adapt it🙂
Nice information, Hasan. Thank you for your research!
I wanted to point out couple of things, as to why we still haven’t adapted renewable energy alternatives more broadly. (it looks like counterintuitive to choose more expensive option, right?)
Although it is true that we are making visible and rapid progress, as of 2023 energy generation is still composed of more than 80 percent fossil fuels.
Renewable energy is obviously cheaper to produce, however raw materials, policies and infrastructure that are needed to make production, transmission and storage more efficient is not there yet. Many countries are reluctant to change whole industries relied on fossil fuel for decades. It will be a costly process to get it done, many countries even do not have incentive to do so either. Even some EU countries such as Poland, or Germany are resisting to shut off their coal-burning power plants because it might cause energy shortages or might hurt their gigantic industries. But it is not all gloomy. We are ultimately will shift to cleaner future because that is the only way to live in harmony and make our economies more sustainable. What do you think? 🙂
Hey Kamran,
Thank you for your impressive comment!😊 Yeah, you are right, we have a structured economy that slows down the adoption of renewable energy. I think we need some role models as countries or individuals who can lead sustainable businesses and show it is valuable. Still, seeing the benefits and changing the current infrastructure requires long-run observation for some parties.