Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy
BY BELLE HU '22
Halloween’s definitely cancelled now. On October 30th, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School students woke up to two feet of snow, a snowy expanse engulfing unsuspecting skeleton and pumpkin decorations all around town. A few weeks later, the semester gave way to a humid Thanksgiving break; the air hung moist and the temperature had risen to T-shirt weather. Isn’t it time we believe climate change is real?
While society gradually established its new “normal” during the pandemic, nature discreetly carved its own path. Even suburban Acton has felt the effects of climate change through its drastically fluctuating temperatures this fall. And though COVID-19 briefly reduced net greenhouse gas emissions as less people travelled to work, green jobs still suffered. Unfortunately, the clean energy industry lost 600,000 jobs in March and April alone, and corporations and factories soon continued churning out petroleum-based products. Yet, the United States remains preoccupied with the constant uptick in cases and the vaccine discussions, effectively sidelining climate change discourse.
Prior to the pandemic, scientists and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) pointed to the danger of ecological tipping points—critical thresholds to catastrophic impacts—and they specifically projected 2050 as the point of no return. Still, the US government has responded inadequately to these warnings; the Democrats remain divided over the controversial Green New Deal and Biden’s proposed $1.7 billion climate plan. All this legislative gridlock in Congress obscures our actual proximity to a renewables-driven economy. In fact, a greener society is close at hand; it’s no longer a question of “if” we transition, but rather “when.” Thus, given this inevitability, society should proactively work towards this goal instead of taking the bystander’s approach.
While the scientific community generally agrees that global warming exists, some experts, such as Professor Barry Brook at the University of Tasmania, deflate its impact. For instance, he rejects ecological tipping points as overly standardized thinking and points out that the IPCC has shifted their tipping points many times. Other skeptics critique the “doomsday” perspective, reasoning that the Earth’s land, biodiversity, and resource availability have constantly fluctuated over its lifespan. Given the throng of scientific voices questioning the validity of climate change’s consequences, it’s no wonder that major politicians constantly postpone transitioning to a greener society.
Moreover, certain scientists simply believe that climate change is inevitable and prevention is a lost cause, hindering the transition as a whole. They claim that a renewables-based economy would be ineffective, if not fail miserably. Citing France’s $33 billion investment in renewable energy, which merely resulted in higher electricity bills, those opposed to clean energy argue that the sun and wind are just too unreliable. Some experts emphasize that a green economy would be too difficult to implement and that it could at most delay warming, but not solve the problem. Still, others insist that renewables would hurt the environment through its reliance on rare earth minerals. For instance, building solar batteries and wind turbines require non-renewable energy and generate non-recyclable waste. By invalidating the usage of renewable energy, these reputable scientists discourage citizens from prioritizing climate change and spread skepticism among the general public.
Despite these dismissive opinions, a transition to a green economy is inevitable as we continue to consume fossil fuels. Our finite supply necessitates a renewables-based economy in the future. After all, those who fixate on the large implementation costs fail to realize that running out of fossil fuels will just as effectively collapse the economy. And while some scientists argue the pessimistic “lost-cause” perspective, in reality, we can fix our giant carbon footprint, or, at the very least, mitigate the negative effects, if we act now. Thus, timing is essential. Fossil fuels will eventually run out, so transitioning now is better than scrambling when it’s too late.
Indeed, though some experts worry that a green economy is not feasible, we actually have plenty of green technology at our disposal. The green economy is within reach—all we need is an extra push to implement climate reforms. Renewable energy is already set to overtake the fossil fuel industry, rapidly becoming cheaper and more reliable. Meanwhile, green innovation, including electric vehicles, carbon capture, and storage plants, has greatly bolstered progress. As for the economy, investments in biofuel-generated electricity, such as wind, solar, and nuclear power, can cut the nation’s energy demands in half. In the process, the expansion of this green industry can produce massive profits for the economy and provide millions of jobs.
Thus, with all these benefits unknowingly embedded in our everyday lives, it’s time we seize the opportunity to transition. A green economy will not interfere with everyday life as some may fear. In fact, its profound merits will improve our daily lives. Though this change in energy source can create unease, we should not allow doubt and controversy to impede the transition to green energy. After all, climate change won’t stop for us, so we shouldn’t hesitate either.
While society gradually established its new “normal” during the pandemic, nature discreetly carved its own path. Even suburban Acton has felt the effects of climate change through its drastically fluctuating temperatures this fall. And though COVID-19 briefly reduced net greenhouse gas emissions as less people travelled to work, green jobs still suffered. Unfortunately, the clean energy industry lost 600,000 jobs in March and April alone, and corporations and factories soon continued churning out petroleum-based products. Yet, the United States remains preoccupied with the constant uptick in cases and the vaccine discussions, effectively sidelining climate change discourse.
Prior to the pandemic, scientists and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) pointed to the danger of ecological tipping points—critical thresholds to catastrophic impacts—and they specifically projected 2050 as the point of no return. Still, the US government has responded inadequately to these warnings; the Democrats remain divided over the controversial Green New Deal and Biden’s proposed $1.7 billion climate plan. All this legislative gridlock in Congress obscures our actual proximity to a renewables-driven economy. In fact, a greener society is close at hand; it’s no longer a question of “if” we transition, but rather “when.” Thus, given this inevitability, society should proactively work towards this goal instead of taking the bystander’s approach.
While the scientific community generally agrees that global warming exists, some experts, such as Professor Barry Brook at the University of Tasmania, deflate its impact. For instance, he rejects ecological tipping points as overly standardized thinking and points out that the IPCC has shifted their tipping points many times. Other skeptics critique the “doomsday” perspective, reasoning that the Earth’s land, biodiversity, and resource availability have constantly fluctuated over its lifespan. Given the throng of scientific voices questioning the validity of climate change’s consequences, it’s no wonder that major politicians constantly postpone transitioning to a greener society.
Moreover, certain scientists simply believe that climate change is inevitable and prevention is a lost cause, hindering the transition as a whole. They claim that a renewables-based economy would be ineffective, if not fail miserably. Citing France’s $33 billion investment in renewable energy, which merely resulted in higher electricity bills, those opposed to clean energy argue that the sun and wind are just too unreliable. Some experts emphasize that a green economy would be too difficult to implement and that it could at most delay warming, but not solve the problem. Still, others insist that renewables would hurt the environment through its reliance on rare earth minerals. For instance, building solar batteries and wind turbines require non-renewable energy and generate non-recyclable waste. By invalidating the usage of renewable energy, these reputable scientists discourage citizens from prioritizing climate change and spread skepticism among the general public.
Despite these dismissive opinions, a transition to a green economy is inevitable as we continue to consume fossil fuels. Our finite supply necessitates a renewables-based economy in the future. After all, those who fixate on the large implementation costs fail to realize that running out of fossil fuels will just as effectively collapse the economy. And while some scientists argue the pessimistic “lost-cause” perspective, in reality, we can fix our giant carbon footprint, or, at the very least, mitigate the negative effects, if we act now. Thus, timing is essential. Fossil fuels will eventually run out, so transitioning now is better than scrambling when it’s too late.
Indeed, though some experts worry that a green economy is not feasible, we actually have plenty of green technology at our disposal. The green economy is within reach—all we need is an extra push to implement climate reforms. Renewable energy is already set to overtake the fossil fuel industry, rapidly becoming cheaper and more reliable. Meanwhile, green innovation, including electric vehicles, carbon capture, and storage plants, has greatly bolstered progress. As for the economy, investments in biofuel-generated electricity, such as wind, solar, and nuclear power, can cut the nation’s energy demands in half. In the process, the expansion of this green industry can produce massive profits for the economy and provide millions of jobs.
Thus, with all these benefits unknowingly embedded in our everyday lives, it’s time we seize the opportunity to transition. A green economy will not interfere with everyday life as some may fear. In fact, its profound merits will improve our daily lives. Though this change in energy source can create unease, we should not allow doubt and controversy to impede the transition to green energy. After all, climate change won’t stop for us, so we shouldn’t hesitate either.
