Sustainable Energy Roadmaps: Guiding the Global Shift to Domestic Renewables (Worldwatch Report)

By Alexander Ochs

Although progress has been slow on a global agreement to address human caused climate change, much is happening within individual nations and communities that offers promise for moving toward an energy system that is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. Paradoxically, although most developing countries are relatively minor players in the global greenhouse gas emissions total, many of these countries are forging ahead with strategies that could accelerate the transition to clean energy. In some cases, the scale and commitment of these efforts far exceeds, relative to population size and affluence, those of large industrialized countries such as the United States. The combustion of fossil fuels was essential to the development of today's modern societies. But as cleaner alternatives become increasingly viable, our fossil-dependent energy system is being kept alive at a tremendous price to the environment and society as whole. An important first step in reducing energy consumption is embracing energy efficiency, which can result in significant cost savings even in the near term. In addition, most renewable power technologiesincluding hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, and biomassresult in fewer overall emissions and provide more jobs than conventional fossil fuel power plants. Developing local renewable energy resources, alongside job training and education programs, could provide quality long-term employment and help countries build strong green economies in the decades to come.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1878071696
• ISBN13: 9781878071699
• Release Date: March 2012
• Publisher: Worldwatch Inst
• Length: 46 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.