Humble News: Green Spotlight 3 & 4 - Climate Tech and Fuel Alternatives
After an in-depth look of Global Cooperative Efforts (multi-country initiatives), as well as Businesses taking a green-er stand in this fight against climate change, the next 4 themes will directly tackle the 2 most pressing problems - Air Pollution (emissions) and Waste.
This week’s Humble News is shining a Green Spotlight on 2 themes relating to CLEAN AIR - Climate Technology and Fuel Alternatives.
Air pollution is hard to track because it is not necessarily "visible" to the eye, all the toxic emissions around us exist without us even knowing it’s there. The burning of fossil fuels is the #1 source of air pollution and that is why there's a focus on Renewable Energy (Climate Tech) and Fuel Alternatives.
First off, Climate Technology - the technologies that we use to reduce climate change such as the development of continuously producing (more) Renewable Energy.
Renewable Energy has been a focus in most of the research done in the past years to minimize the use/burning of fossil fuels to sustain our day-to-day lives. As such, a record-breaking global investment of up to $2 Trillion has been made in renewable energy to date.
While a significant shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy usage has been seen from 2021 to 2022 (from 20% to 30%), there’s still ways to go in achieving the goal of 90% renewable energy by 2050. Hence, the focus and continuous support in creating more, consistent sources as seen in the heavy investments being made to date.
In the meantime, in order to combat pollution and emissions immediately, the presence of Fuel Alternatives in the transportation sector has been implemented as Transportation Pollution is the #1 source of Greenhouse Emissions. Given that a lot of transition has to be made, there’s no better time than the present starting off with these 3 sectors - Aviation, Public Transport and Consumer Vehicles.
1. Sustainable Aviation - The goal is net zero aviation by 2050
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the authority behind the use and transition from traditional air-fuel to SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) which is a renewable or waste-derived fuel that meets sustainability criteria and reduces emissions by 80%.
Since 2020, there has been an increase of about 200% of SAF use and will be expected to reach 500% of growth by 2025 as the IATA will be incentivizing the use of SAF. Last year, the European Union has started charging airlines for "polluting more" through a permit system managed by the Emissions Trading System.
2. All-Electric Public Transit System - The goal is net zero land transportation by 2050
Coming from COP15, countries have been making waves in setting forth plans on how to make these goals achievable. Priority on Transportation Decarbonization has been the easiest place to start in most countries. Whereas countries such as Norway, Australia, Berlin, Jakarta and some cities in the US have a fully electric transport system currently running either via train or bus with more plans to expand already in place. Government-used vehicles have also started to transition to either hybrid or fully electric.
3. EVs for all - The goal is net zero land transportation by 2050
All these government efforts would be in vain if the steps to switch to electric does not trickle down to its citizens, the regular consumers. That is why car manufacturing countries such as the US and China are working towards being fully electric by 2030 by phasing out production, and eventually the use of fuel-powered vehicles. The EU will follow suit by banning the sales of fossil-fueled cars by 2035.
Similar efforts are being implemented across the globe even for non-manufacturing countries, examples of which are: Thailand aims for 30% of new vehicles to be electric by 2030, Singapore for 100% cleaner-energy vehicles by 2040 and Indonesia to be fully EV by 2050.
Given all of these efforts towards Renewable Energy and Alternative Fuel or Going Electric, how does it impact us and why is it important for us to pay attention and try to adapt as much as we can.
1. Availability of these alternatives, especially for consumer vehicles, gives people the option to choose better, choose green-er and do their own part in reaching the global goal of net-zero by 2050.
2. Lower toxic air emissions mean cleaner air and better health all around. According to the WHO, 1 out of 13 people suffer from asthma and is triggered by air pollutants.
3. With more options available, different renewable energy sources become more accessible and this increase in availability can drive down the cost of electricity, transportation, vehicles, etc.
All these themes go hand in hand in painting a greener, better Earth. From Global Cooperation, Business Accountability down to Consumer Choices, we can all do our part in making this world better. Stay tuned for the last set of the Green Spotlight themes next week, where we take a look at Plastic Waste.
To keep-up-to-date with everything HEI, make sure to follow us on Instagram @humbleearthinitiative.
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariannelehnis/2022/12/31/booming-investment-in-renewables-is-set-to-continue-in-2023-and-beyond/?sh=8b82f1311713
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/raising-ambition/renewable-energy
https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/carbon-pollution-transportation
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cleaner-jet-fuel-is-poised-for-takeoff/
https://www.americancityandcounty.com/2023/01/10/transportation-decarbonization-blueprint-outlines-path-to-zero-emissions-by-2050/
https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/ci/research-analysis/the-electric-vehicle-revolution-the-impact-on-power-systems-in.html
