Gradual global warming is occurring all around us, as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap Sun’s heat. A large chunk of this comes from burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas. A decarbonized economy could slow, and potentially halt this process, by radically reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Batteries play an essential role in this transformation, by supporting low carbon, green electricity production.
Why We Need a Decarbonized Economy Now
If we allow this situation to develop further without intervening, Earth’s climate could cease to be hospitable for many species. We could have fewer trees synthesizing fewer nutrients from carbon dioxide, and less oxygen.
Some life in the human food chain could become extinct. We already know the answer is to implement a decarbonized economy. Unfortunately, this will change many of our favorite lifestyles, and humans are holding back.
We need to find a way of reducing carbon emissions significantly, while promoting our social, economic, and environmental development goals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists five sectors causing 99% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions:
- Transportation: 28%
- Electric Power: 25%
- Industry: 23%
- Commercial / Residential 13%
- Agriculture 10%
These simple truths are behind calls to decarbonize gasoline vehicles, and to stop generating electricity by burning fossil fuels.
We Have to Implement Renewable Energy Now
If we took fossil fuels out of transportation and electric power, this would have a major, positive impact on 53% of global warming. It simply makes sense to start where we can make the greatest impression. There should be progressive follow-though in industry, as the new culture gained momentum.
We need to kick-start this green revolution in three doable ways:
- Radically scale up wind solar and wave power generation.
- Devise a new generation of safe, powerful storage batteries.
- Transform transportation through implementing this potential.
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