Creating Solutions to the Climate Crisis
There are plenty of well-understood solutions to the climate crisis. We now need the leadership and the courage to change course.
What Is the Climate Crisis and How Do We Solve It?
By Darshan Goswami, M.S., P.E.
Climate change is one of the most challenging threats humanity has ever faced – but there are solutions.
The Climate crisis is real and happening now. The crisis is accelerating more rapidly than most scientists anticipated, and many are deeply concerned that climate tipping points are imminent. Climate change could cause significant disruptions to ecosystems, society, and economies, potentially making large areas of the Earth uninhabitable.
The climate crisis is driven by emissions of greenhouse gases, the main contributor to warming temperatures. Every additional delay in action will result in worsening consequences of global warming, including more extreme weather events, higher temperature extremes, and a higher risk of fire, droughts, and flooding.
Fortunately, the crisis is solvable. There are plenty of well-understood solutions to the climate crisis. We now need the leadership and the courage to change course.
What is Climate Crisis?
Climate change is a modification of the global climate over a long period. During the past few centuries, humans have released more greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, increasing the Earth’s temperature and contributing to a serious climate crisis. At least 97% of published climate experts agree that global warming is real and caused by human activities. The release of harmful gases from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) is the main cause. Due to past emissions, the planet has already heated about 1.2°C, and the temperature is certain to increase further because greenhouse gas levels are still rising. If it continues at the current rate, global warming will likely increase Earth’s temperature by 1.5°C between 2030 and 2050. [1]
Impact of Climate Crises
The impact of climate change can be seen in the massive raging wildfires in California and Turkey. Through the surging of global temperatures and heatwaves of 49ºC in Canada and Morocco; devastating flash floods in Japan, Europe, the US, India, and China; rapid melting of glaciers; rising ocean temperatures; widespread mega-drought; increased respiratory diseases; and mass forced human displacement that is affecting every living being on Earth. Recent scientific reports show that the climate crisis is only getting more severe and that we are not prepared for the worsening impacts.
These impacts specifically affect the planet’s poorest countries and low-income communities, which face higher risks of death and displacement from the climate crisis. In addition, record-breaking heat waves are rippling across the planet, bringing death and destruction in their wake. Refusing to address the climate crisis will cause significant economic damage and global supply chain interruptions.
What Can We Do?
Many scientists have called for urgent international action, citing cutting carbon emissions as the only long-term solution for avoiding the impacts of the climate crisis. We need to focus on two things to address the climate crisis: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation involves decreasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by reducing emissions. If we want to limit warming to 1.5?, we must cut global emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. In addition, we must transform businesses to rely on low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen and electricity generated from solar and wind to meet these targets. Because the climate is already changing, we also need to adapt. Adaptation involves preparing for the effects of the climate crisis, such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and food insecurity.
Climate Crisis Solutions
Greenhouse gases are released when oil, coal, and other fossil fuels are burned for energy—the energy we use to power our homes, cars, and economy. Using less fossil fuel can curb our contribution to the climate crisis. Scientists also urge the slashing of pollutants, stabilizing the human population, and switching to plant-based diets.
Here are 12 promising solutions to tackle the climate crisis and put the world on a path to zero emissions by 2050.
1 – Expedite the Deployment of Renewable Energy (RE) – Renewable energy is the cheapest and safest option to avert the effects of the climate crisis. We must gradually phase out fossil fuels and transfer our energy sources to clean technologies like solar, wind, biomass, hydro, tidal wave, and geothermal. Costs for wind and solar have come down between 60% and 80% since 2010, and battery costs have come down 85% in the same period. By 2030, the cost of electricity produced from renewable resources will be about half of that generated from coal and gas.
2 – Cut Emissions – To avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis, we need to reach “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050. We must no longer build fossil fuel infrastructure, phase out carbon-intensive assets, and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies to achieve this goal. The scale of these changes requires significant international cooperation.
3 – Carbon Pricing – We need carbon pollution to protect our health and well-being and move beyond fossil fuels. Economists believe that carbon pricing is the most effective way to reduce carbon emissions. Carbon pricing makes polluting more expensive and more affordable solutions like clean energy and electric vehicles (E.V.s).
4 – Develop National Renewable Energy Policy – Each country must Enact and deploy a comprehensive new energy roadmap with innovative RE policies — such as 40% by 2030 and 100% by 2050 — to create demand, new industries and innovation, and a new wave of green jobs.
5 – Decarbonize the Electricity System and Electrify Everything – Expedite a move to electrify transportation by encouraging expanded use of E.V.s and plug-in hybrids and deploying solar-powered E.V. charging stations worldwide. In addition, facilitate the public transportation system of the future with “zero-emission” battery-powered electric buses in all major cities.
6 – Energy Efficiency – To reduce the long-term energy demand, it is imperative to engage states, industries, utilities, and other stakeholders to promote energy efficiency investments in the economy, industry, transportation, buildings, and appliances.
7 – Develop Energy Storage – We are already seeing incredible progress in energy storage, battery technology, fuel cells and hydrogen generation/storage, and smarter and more flexible energy grids. With newer and better technologies and evolving energy and climate policies, renewed investment in energy storage could set the stage for a major transition to renewables.
8 – Stop Deforestation and Plant Trees – Cutting forests is a chief contributor to climate change because forests and trees are carbon reservoirs. While they absorb CO2 from the air for photosynthesis, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere whenever they are burned or cleared. Therefore, controlling logging and planting new trees can offset greenhouse gas emissions.
9 – Plant-Based Diet and Consumption – One of the best ways for us to stop the climate crisis is by reducing our meat consumption or by going fully vegan. Animal products contribute to 15% of global greenhouse emissions and threaten human health and environmental sustainability. Moreover, animal farming significantly contributes to deforestation and land use.
10 – Work with Governments to Take Bold Climate Action – Work with government leaders worldwide to set aggressive goals for climate solutions that create jobs, protect people, and cut pollution. In addition, governments worldwide need to adopt climate action plans that comply with international standards.
11 – Protect Oceans – Oceans absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to keep our climate stable. But many are overfished, used for oil and gas drilling, or threatened by deep-sea mining. So protecting oceans and marine life is key to protecting the environment from climate crises.
12 – Educate Girls – Education is the most powerful tool for breaking the cycle of international poverty while mitigating emissions by curbing population growth. Educating girls is one of the most cost-effective, high-impact ways for every nation to fight rising temperatures. Women with more years of education have fewer, healthier children and actively manage their reproductive health, and therefore a lower carbon footprint. [2]
Climate change poses existential threats to humanity. Today’s climate crisis can be averted by radically reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuels and other greenhouse gases. First, however, all countries must live up to the commitments of the Paris Agreement.
Some scientists have found that we may have already reached irreversible climate destabilization. Climate change could render a significant portion of the Earth uninhabitable, creating increased social, economic, and political crises in the very near future if left unchecked.
Decisive actions and policy changes are needed to effectively combat climate crises and ensure the planet’s health. While real solutions will require global action, each of us can make small changes in our day-to-day lives to lower our impact on the environment.
I believe that the threats posed by the climate crisis can be solved with technologies and the science that already exists. Moreover, the above solutions are favorable for creating millions of jobs, protecting the health of our communities, and fostering a stronger, cleaner, more equitable economy.
To transition to a 100% clean energy economy by 2050, policymakers everywhere must tackle the climate crisis by making massive investments in large-scale renewable energy projects. Through a powerful combination of informed policy and personal choices, we must ensure that the planet is safe and inhabitable for ourselves and future generations. If we do not take action now, the damage from climate change could be much greater and longer lasting.
You will also enjoy 5 Ways Parents Can Help Their Kids Deal With Climate Anxiety
References:
Skeptical Science (2017). The 97% consensus on global warming. https://skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-in…
Brookings: Why is girls’ education important for climate action?
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About the Author
Darshan Goswami, MS, PE, has more than 40 years of experience in the energy field. He worked as a Project Manager for Renewable Energy, Micro-grid, and Smart Grid projects at Pittsburgh’s United States Department of Energy (DOE). He is a registered professional electrical engineer with a passion and commitment to promoting, developing, and deploying renewable energy resources and the hydrogen economy. The author supports India Foundation for Children Education and Care, Inc. (http://www.ifcare.org/).
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