It is no secret that we have been at the jaws of global climate change for decades. With the harmful gasses produced by factories and the carbon monoxide released by gas-based vehicles, we are on the brink of opening a door that cannot be closed. The world is making many adjustments to help alleviate the climate situation, but one of the most integral is switching to clean energy. This isn’t just a good change, it is necessary for us to fight against the crisis.
“I think we should switch to clean energy because it is better for the environment, I think it is a great idea and will end up saving the planet,” sophomore Misa Bramble said.
One of the largest sources of greenhouse gasses is electricity production. Nuclear and non-renewable power plants pollute our air, land, and water. Switching to clean energy would stop all harmful greenhouse gasses from ruining our atmosphere and would reduce air pollution. This would decrease the environmental impacts of CO2, which is one of the most common contributors to climate change.
Clean energy consists of solar power, hydropower, and wind power. Technologies like solar panels, hydroelectric dams, and windmills harness natural forces like light, water, and wind to convert them into usable energy. Prioritizing these over factories and power plants is crucial to maintaining the environment’s health. Geothermal energy is also the future. Wells are mined about a mile deep into the earth’s crust to make use of its geothermal resources. This utilizes heat, rock, and water permeability to power turbines that produce energy.
During President Joe Biden’s campaign last year, he stated that by 2050, a large majority of America will have hopefully gone eco-friendly. One thing he wants to have done sooner than later is using electric transportation. The gas from our vehicles heavily affects the environment, and if a large majority of us switched to electric vehicles we would reduce CO2 pollution by a lot. Biden also promised one million new jobs in the auto industry and a smooth transition for fossil fuel workers. He also planned to have a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. As ambitious as these statements are, Biden is certain that they are obtainable.
“Look, these aren’t pie in the sky dreams. These are actionable policies that we can get to work on right away.” President Joe Biden stated during a speech when he was campaigning for office.
While switching to 100% clean energy would decrease carbon pollution drastically, pollution would not just disappear. Clean energy is meant to reduce the pollution on our planet, not completely end it. Switching to clean energy also poses large financial concerns. It is a massive change to our energy production, and while it would have major benefits, it would come at a significant cost.
“I like the idea of all clean energy by 2050 but I do think it is a little unrealistic. Clean energy can be really expensive and just because the US [government] gets their act together doesn’t mean other countries will. I also think we need to think about cleaning up what we have already polluted while trying to switch to fully clean energy,” Bramble continued.
Switching to clean energy should not even be a question. The long-term effects of pollution will worsen the state of our health and heat the atmosphere, damaging the planet even more. While switching to clean energy would be extremely costly for the nation as a whole, going green would ensure a brighter future for our environment and there should be no hesitation to take action.