Most people know that they should recycle. They also know that they should conserve water and that littering is bad.
What most people don’t realize is how dire the current state of the environment truly is.
Unless we want more climate change, mass extinctions, and disruptions to the global food supply, we need to get our collective act together. Part of that means taking a serious look at the future of energy to understand where things are headed.
So what does that future look like, and what exactly is the situation like right now?
Keep reading to learn all about what the future of energy looks like.
Current Scientific Reports Are Troubling
If you’re looking for happy and uplifting news about the environment, it might be hard to find these days. That’s because we’re currently hurtling along a path of no return with regards to climate change.
According to a recent UN climate report, the world is in a stage of red alert. Experts agree that 2021 is one of if not the last year for countries to reverse the ecological damage that they’ve done.
Otherwise, the planet will continue to warm, leading to more frequent natural disasters, global flooding, food scarcity, and many other dire problems.
The World Needs to Take Big Steps
Most people hear that sort of news and find themselves inspired to take action. That’s great, and making changes in our individual lives can cause a ripple effect of progress, but change largely needs to come from above.
Corporations and governments are responsible for more carbon emissions than anyone else. People need to hold these industries and institutions accountable for change to occur and be meaningful.
There are several contributors to carbon emissions, climate change, and ecological collapse as a whole, but the energy we use plays one of the largest roles.
Corporations and governments need to take serious steps away from fossil fuels and finite resources and move towards clean and renewable energy.
Recent Developments
While the situation is dire, it’s not all bad news. Governments across the world have shown that they’re capable of making changes when necessary.
In the United States, President Biden recently rejoined the Paris Agreement after the former disgraced, twice-impeached President Trump left it a few years back. This pact holds nations accountable for carbon emissions.
Many legislators are also seriously beginning to consider embracing and implementing the tenets of the Green New Deal. This proposal revolutionizes energy and other areas in the United States.
In the European Union, countries like Germany are promising to be carbon neutral within a matter of decades. While sooner is better than later, it nevertheless shows that progress is happening.
A Greener Future
Facts like these show that as long as citizens keep the pressure on the people in power, we may one day be living in a greener, more sustainable society. In this sort of world, many things would look radically different.
For one, farmers would prioritize sustainable farming over profit-driven farming. They would work to ensure that they produce enough food for everyone, that that food gets distributed correctly, and that we begin to rely less on the cattle and meat industries.
Electric and hybrid cars would also begin to replace gas-guzzling models, helping to eliminate (or at least mitigate) another serious cause of climate change.
A Shift in the Traditional Power Grid
Of course, the energy we use to power our homes will also begin to look different in the upcoming years. More and more people will shift away from the traditional power grid and instead embrace renewable energy.
Here are a few of the most popular green energy varieties of today that will gain additional support in the future.
Solar Power
The solar industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. Businesses and homeowners around the country (and the world) continue to invest in it, adding solar panels and other devices to buildings and properties.
Solar power creates electricity by harnessing energy from the sun. It absorbs the sun’s rays then converts them into electricity.
This sort of setup provides abundant energy and is also squeaky clean.
Wind Power
As its name suggests, wind power involves harnessing the power of the wind to create electricity. Most of the time, people do this through wind turbines and other similar devices.
Wind turbines are more expensive to maintain than solar panels. That being said, they can produce more energy in the right conditions, making them a popular choice for many.
Other Developing Power Sources
While solar and wind power are the dominant forces in the sustainable energy industry, several other power sources continue to gain popularity as well.
Geothermal energy is another source of electricity that’s much more sustainable than traditional fossil fuel sources. It involves drawing energy up from deep in the ground to then generate electricity.
Hydropower is another option that many institutions are beginning to embrace. This is when machinery harnesses the power of flowing water to create electricity.
Be a Part of the Future of Energy
It’s easy to get depressed by looking at the current state of the environment. While we shouldn’t let facts depress us, we should use them to motivate and empower us to action.
For the future of energy to be a bright and positive one, the world needs outspoken and passionate individuals. If you can, look into ways that you can join the green revolution in your local community.
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