New Energy For The Recovery

What will power the post-pandemic global economic recovery?

27 June 2020 (UN News)

“As governments try to kick-start their economies, the UN is calling for recovery plans to be built around low-carbon technologies…In island economies, importing fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, comes at a considerable costs…[Many are] investing in renewable energy sources…[T]his shift to clean energy is expected to aid economic recovery, with new jobs in areas such as the production, installation, and maintenance of renewable energy equipment, from solar panels, to batteries and wind turbines…

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Another added benefit is energy security: with such a high dependence on imported oil, price fluctuations can make budgeting difficult, and any interruption to supply can have serious consequences. “Home-grown” energy from renewable sources can make the energy grid more reliable, and more resilient…[A new REN 21 report] shows, remarkable progress has been made by the renewable energy industry, where costs are falling, and clean energy use is increasing. However, this good news is currently offset by the fact that global energy use is rising, and is being powered, in the main, by fossil fuels…

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[T]he pandemic-related emissions drop barely makes a dent in the long-term problem of climate change, and an overhaul of the entire energy system is needed…The report warns that many recovery programmes include commitments to stick with dirty, polluting fossil fuel systems…[The forecast 2020 greenhouse gas emissions decrease from Covid 19 and the economic downturn of around eight per cent] is only a temporary respite…The question is whether the international community will seize this opportunity…” click here for more

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