Remember that quote by James Leape, Director General of WWF International, who stated that we are more than capable of having a 100% renewable energy future? Click here for a reminder. We ran through the first five of WWF International’s 10 recommendations to achieve that goal and discussed how everything from the development of clean energy sources, farther reaching grids, the elimination of energy poverty, money and investments and finally, eating less meat can have a significant impact on energy efficiency and renewability in the future. So, shall we continue on then?
Number six on the list brings me back to my childhood. In Canada, we had it drilled into our heads in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s to REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE! I can remember numerous school projects in which we had to make something useful out of things that might previously had be destined for the garbage. There were many a sock puppet and scratched up CD mobile floating around my house as a 9 year old – perhaps not the most useful items, but the point was definitely driven home. I’m grateful for these exercises as it really did imprint on my brain the importance of recycling. To this day, I can’t throw an aluminum can in the garbage. The less waste we delegate to landfills the better, as they can be a significant, if not a leading, source of greenhouse gas emissions for some cities.
Next, we’re talking transportation. Whenever possible, walking, cycling, car pooling and public transport should be taken advantage of. Perhaps purchasing an electric or hybrid car is on your to do list in the next couple years. Even though they use electricity, that power can be sourced in a number of different ‘green’ ways. Hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, solar or biomass methods can generate the energy needed to power these vehicles. However, even barring those ambitious energy sources, plugging your electric car into a regular old outlet results in less CO2 emissions than the equivalent fossil fuel power source – nearly by four times! Also, your waist line will thank if you if you start walking more – do you really need to drive to the corner store?
Number eight deals with the development of green technology through further research and development in energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. We’re just getting on a role here – let’s try and keep the momentum up. Luckily, there are many grants available from a number of different agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency in Canada. Every new piece of green technology that succeeds in reducing our energy usage is contributing to improving the state of our planet – no matter how small. Keep ‘em coming, inventors and engineers!
Our second to last recommendation from WWF International is sustainability. It’s all well and good to come up with all these great ideas, but we must form habits and practice these recommendations consistently and with vigour. It takes time and effort to break old habits and create new ones, but the pay off will be more than worth the initial exertion. It has been suggested that sustainability in the 21st century must include actions in three axes – environmental, social and economic. The above recommendations cover these axes quite comprehensively and if we can follow them with enthusiasm, we will be well on our way to ensuring the health of our planet for future generations.
Last, but certainly not least, is recommendation number ten: Agreement. Let’s all agree to support each other in this endeavour, shall we? WWF International recommends supporting even the most ambitious energy and climate agreements and projects as global cooperation is the only way we’re going to be able to do this. Remember what they taught us in pre-school? Play nice? Let’s all play nice and get together on this. I don’t know about you, but I have never had the luxury of knowing what a world without threat of environmental collapse is like. Can you imagine what that would be like? Can you imagine the possibilities that we could create if our mental energy wasn’t wrapped up in the unwavering menace of global energy shortages, climate change, energy poverty and carbon emissions. Imagine the possibilities. Let’s make it happen.
