Ning Yu 18/6/09 08:49 Page 23
How do we satisfy our need for energy and sustain our environment?
As with most problems, social influences and views can have a great
Figure 1: Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions
impact on the answers. The main difficulty faced with this is the
uncertain amount of co-operation that would be achieved, as well as
100
knowing the boundaries between doing what is best for humans in
general and when that becomes an infringement upon personal -eq)
80
2
freedoms. The optimum social solution to this problem can be
summarised in a series of steps:
60
• Engage people from a wide variety of backgrounds to think about
40
the importance of caring for the environment, culminating in an
understanding of what it entails, i.e. the importance of biodiversity. 20
• Educate the people about the current situation via schools in the Global GHG emissions (gigaton CO
case of school children and, possibly, more news features or 0
2005 2020 2035 2050
documentaries. Knowledge of the subject is vital as it dispels any
incorrect assumptions about energy production and conservation.
Business as usual Other renewable energy Non-CO
2
GHG reduction
• Encourage people to use less energy, and eradicate the ‘it’s
Lifestyle change Bioenergy with CCS Land-use change
someone else’s problem’ sentiments among some members of the
Efficiency CCS Bellona scenario
population. Current efforts are a good starting point but nowhere
Predictions made by The Bellona Foundation based on current data. The Bellona scenario is the case when all
of the above factors are taken into consideration – or the ‘optimum’ situation – where the greenhouse gas
near enough; with good public awareness and appropriate lifestyle
emissions are reduced by up to 85%.
changes we would need less energy, and a smaller demand would
Figure 2: Functional Household Biogas Plant
be much easier to satisfy and sustain.
• Bigger businesses need to realise that profit is not the most
important factor when things like the environment and our global
ecosystem are at stake. Sometimes it is necessary for businesses
and companies to realise that it is up to themselves rather than the
government to set rules and regulations to control them. It sets a
good example to the rest of society and would also be beneficial in
the long term.
There is a good possibility we could achieve the Bellona Scenario by
2050 – it is optimistic but definitely possible. No one solution is
without its flaws – hydrogen fuels are environmentally sound but
produce a lot less energy than conventional carbon-based fuels,
while wind farms generate a lot of power but they may do serious
damage to the bird population – but when used in moderation along
with a combination of other innovative methods and ideas the
benefits greatly outweigh the costs. The emphasis would have to be
This functional household biogas plant is capable of providing for the heating and cooking needs of a typical
put on developing new technologies and ways of making the current
average- to large-sized family in rural India.
processes more efficient. We have the capabilities to do it, just a
little more motivation is needed. Educating people about the process. Then again, who knows what will happen in the future? In
problem is also very important, as reducing our consumption and the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who
need for excess energy would mean the current supply would last believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I believe we can achieve what
longer and there would be less drastic environmental damage in the we have set out to do and more. ■
2009 SCHOOLS ENERGY AWARDS
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