In my last post I summarised some highlights from Hannah Ritchie’s book Not the End of the World. which gave an optimistic perspective on our efforts to manage global warming. Now, I am delving into her most recent book, Clearing the Air.
This time, Ritchie has produced a hopeful guide to solving global warming by reference to fifty burning questions and their straight-forward, data-driven answers. I have picked out what I believe are five of the most important to share with you.
Q. My country only emits 1% of the world emissions; surely it’s too small to make a difference?
Answer: the world’s “small emitters” make up more than one-third of the world’s emissions, enough to significantly turn the dial.
Only six countries are each responsible for at least 2% of global emissions: China (31%), USA (14%), India (8%), Russia (5%), Japan (3%) and Indonesia (2%). At the other extreme, the 142 smallest emitters contribute just 5% to the global total. Therefore, a middle basket of “rich” countries can make a difference: e.g. UK, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Canada and Australia. Smaller countries can more easily cut their greenhouse gas emissions to near zero, demonstrating to larger countries and emitters that it can be done.
Q. Aren’t our efforts pointless if China’s emissions keep growing?
Answer: China is the world’s largest emitter but it’s rolling out renewables and electric vehicles at breakneck speed.
China does have a massive impact on our climate future. In the last eight years it has emitted more carbon dioxide than the UK has since the industrial revolution. But China is building out solar and wind at a staggering rate. In a single year it builds enough to power the entire UK. It’s moving so quickly that analysts expect its emissions from electricity to peak in a few years. When China reaches peak emissions, the world will too.
Q. Can we transition to clean energy fast enough?
Answer: Historic energy transitions were slow, but clean energy is growing faster than any energy source in history.
The world needs to move away from fossil fuels within a few decades. There is no historic precedent for this. However, clean energy is already growing several times faster than any energy source in history. Further, localized energy transitions haven’t always been slow. Take the UK which went from coal providing two-thirds of UK’s power in the 1990s to being coal-free today. In response to the 1970s oil crisis, France built a huge nuclear fleet in two decades. In addition, solar and wind technologies are modular and can be built quickly provided we expand and modernise our electrical grids.
Q. Won’t we need fossil fuels to build low-carbon energy in the first place?
Answer: Solar panels and wind turbines generate far more energy than is used to build them and pay back fast (often just a few months).
The concept of Energy Return on Investment (EROI) tells us how much energy we will produce for every unit of energy we use to build that source. A minimum EROI that provides positive benefits is in the range five to ten times. Utility solar achieves an EROI of 10 to 30 depending on scale and siting. Similarly, wind farms achieve an EROI of between 15 and 35
Q. Won’t we become dependent on a few countries, just like we did with fossil fuels?
Answer: Unequal distribution of critical minerals puts the energy transition at risk, but not energy security; every country has free sunshine and wind.
While it is true that a small number of countries dominate the critical minerals and technology supply chain, this is not a new geopolitical risk. We only need to look at the oil crisis of the 1970s and today’s impact of conflicts in Russia and the Middle East to observe the security risks.
But there’s a difference. Volatile or uncertain energy fuel markets create high prices and shortages. More than 80% of countries are importers of fossil fuels. But for renewables, this supply chain dominance applies during the transition or build out of the infrastructure. Once in place, renewable energy sources (sun and wind) are free from geopolitical influence. So, while geopolitical influence may slow the transition by forcing countries to find alternative sources, materials or technology, they will not be hostage to fuel exporters.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of global warming, but Clearing the Air makes the case that hope is a data-driven choice. From China’s breakneck rollout of electric vehicles to the incredible energy return on investment of modern solar farms, the foundations of a low-carbon world are already being laid. We are rewriting the rules of historic energy transitions. And there are many other relevant Q&A’s in the book to draw inspiration from. Hannah Ritchie focuses us on the tangible, rapid progress happening right now, to remind us that although there are many challenges ahead, we must not give in to despair.
The reviewer is a co-author of Court of the Grandchildren, a novel set in 2050s America.
Main image credit: Gerd Altmann via Pixabay
For book reviews and posts on similar themes, consider:
How to Cope with Climate Anxiety
How to talk about Climate Change
The best thing you can do to tackle global warming
