United Nations Development Programme
Energy powers everything in our daily lives, and without it we wouldn’t be able to live the way we do. Unfortunately, the majority of the energy currently used on Earth produces greenhouse gasses. As a result, a large shift in the type of energy we use and how we use it needs to be made in order to stay in line with the 1.5⁰C plan.
Do you know which energy sources have the greatest percentage of CO₂ emissions? Click on the Energy mission image to find out!
Source: IEA, 2020
More than 20% of power is generated through renewable sources.
What would you like to do?
Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, are produced without emitting greenhouse gasses. As a result, the use of renewable power is in line with the 1.5⁰C plan. In addition, due to an advancement in technology and increase in manufacturing, solar and wind produce electricity at lower costs and are becoming more competitive within the energy market.
Like solar and wind energy, electricity generated from water, otherwise known as hydropower, produces energy without emitting greenhouse gases. As a result, it also helps reduce emissions. The reason hydropower is not always as good of an option as using solar or wind is because of increasing water shortages. If there is a drought then a dam can't generate electricity. Another issue with hydropower is that when a dam is built, a reservoir is created. As a result, there are threats of displacing people and animals as well as hurting habitats.
Building coal plants and using them to produce energy would emit more greenhouse gasses. This is because coal is a fossil fuel and emits greenhouse gasses when burned. Producing electricity using coal is not in line with the 1.5⁰C plan.
How can factories and industry be more energy efficient?
By using innovative energy efficiency techniques, like greening buildings, and implementing smart technology, such as efficient light bulbs and machinery, a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be made to stay in line with the 1.5⁰plan.
It takes energy and resources to make products. If a circular economy, where products are reused, recycled, and made to last longer, was implemented, fewer new products would have to be made and there would be a decrease in emissions. This is a good way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but it can only go so far as products' lives can only be extended for so long.
Leaving the lights on when not needed will increase emissions because we will have to generate more electricity, and as a result it is not in line with the 1.5⁰C plan.
Fossil fuels are the primary contributor to climate change. What will you do?
Increasing the use of renewable energy is important, but it must rapidly replace fossil fuel energy sources. To stay in line with the 1.5⁰C plan, 95% of current coal plants would have to stop running by the year 2050, and no new coal plants could be used. The use of high polluting fuels, like coal, is a large portion of global power. As a result, if fossil fuels were not used, it would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Investing in green industries can allow for the innovation, creation, and expansion of new technologies. However, there are already solutions available, such as stopping the use of fuels that pollute, which have a larger and more immediate impact than investing in green industries.
Drilling for more oil will lead to use of more oil, which will drastically increase emissions. This is because oil is a greenhouse gas and when burned it releases greenhouse gasses. As a result, it is not in line with the 1.5⁰C plan.
Energy produces 60% of emissions. What would you like to do?
Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, do not produce greenhouse gasses. As a result, the use of renewable power is in line with the 1.5⁰C plan. In addition, due to an advancement in technology and increase in manufacturing, solar and wind produce electricity at lower costs and are becoming more competitive within the energy market.
Burning plants to make fuel, also known as biofuel, is a form of renewable energy that could be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Using solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy, however, are a better option than biofuel. This is because biofuel requires a lot of land to grow the crops that make the fuel. This land could instead be used for food production or kept untouched to protect ecosystems.
Building coal plants and using them to produce energy would emit more greenhouse gasses. This is because coal is a fossil fuel and emits greenhouse gasses when burned. Producing electricity using coal is not in line with the 1.5⁰C plan.
Heating, lighting and cooling uses excessive energy.
How can we reduce the amount we need?
Buildings alone consume 32% of global energy and, to stay on track with the 1.5⁰C plan, buildings will have to reduce their emissions by 80% to 90% by 2050. By using innovative energy efficiency techniques and implementing smart technology, such as efficient light bulbs, a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be made.
Designing green buildings will lower the use of electricity in future buildings and therefore reduce emissions. However, there are a lot of older buildings that will not have green technology and will continue to waste a lot of energy. As a result, focusing on reducing wasted energy across all buildings that are already in use will decrease the most amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
Leaving the heat on when not needed will unnecessarily use energy. This means that we will produce more electricity than we have to, which will increase the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, leaving the heating on is not in line with the 1.5⁰C plan.
Coal, oil and gas cause pollution. What will you do?
Increasing the use of renewable energy is important, but it must urgently replace fossil fuel energy sources, such as coal and oil. To stay in line with the 1.5⁰C plan, 95% of current coal plants would have to stop running by the year 2050, and no new coal plants could be used. The use of high polluting fuels, like coal, is a large portion of global power. As a result, if they were not used, it would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Promoting green products will decrease emissions in different ways, such as energy efficiency or using less carbon-intensive materials. Without the elimination of fossil fuels, however, these green products will still run on energy that emits a large amount of greenhouse gasses. As a result, stopping the burning of fuels that pollute will have a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
Building more pipelines will encourage further use of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, by allowing it to reach more people. The use of these fossil fuels will increase greenhouse gas emissions, which is not in line with the 1.5⁰C plan.
