Phasing out the reliance on fossil fuel and the way forward

By Nuzla Rizkiya

The continued consumption of coal, oil and gas in the world is driving global warming to dangerous levels. A report by the Greenpeace Network- an independent global group of environmental activists investigating, documenting and exposing the causes of environmental destruction illustrated that the need for a managed phase out of fossil fuel production is critical at the present point of time.

The bad behavior of fossil fuel usage doesn’t stop with greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuel consumption is also responsible for significant air and water pollution globally. The burden of this pollution is borne most heavily by low-income and communities of color and by the fossil fuel industry’s own workers.

The global need for phasing out fossil fuel consumption

Countries now cannot keep emitting as the world just stepped offset to balance it out. With radical cuts and a complete reshaping of the global economy, business models are heading towards Net Zero.

Net Zero a.k.a. Carbon Neutrality

Modern day global environmental science now demands that “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 must be reached in order to stay below a global warming level of 1.5C.

Carbon neutrality is a state of net zero carbon dioxide emissions which can be globally achieved by ending the use of coal, oil and gas to the extent that there are dramatically reduced emissions of carbon dioxide together with the removal of it from the atmosphere. The term is used in the context of carbon dioxide-releasing processes associated with transport, energy production, agriculture, and industry.

This target defines the complete negation of the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by human activity as close to zero as possible. The remaining emissions will be re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests etc. This concept is termed as “Net Zero”.

COP26 and Glasgow Climate Pact

The 2015 Paris Agreement provided the framework for countries to tackle climate change. But it was after six years that the first major test of this high-water mark of global diplomacy took place in Glasgow. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP26, was the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference which was held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 13 November 2021.

After 13 days of intense negotiations, COP26 concluded on Saturday 13th November 2021 with every Party at COP26 - representing almost 200 countries - agreeing to the Glasgow Climate Pact. The agreement was reached with the aim of turning the 2020s into a decade of climate action and support.  The pact was the first climate agreement explicitly planning to reduce unabated coal usage on a global level. This accelerated the drumbeat, putting in place the underpinning rules and systems. The initial pledge to "phase out" coal was changed to "phase down" later in negotiation. This has helped coal reliant countries such as India and China to maintain their pledge.

The progress of Net Zero and the Glasgow Climate Pact

As good news the world is said to be nearing the securing near-global net zero. Over 90% of world GDP has been reportedly covered by net zero commitments. 153 countries put forward new 2030 emissions targets (NDCs). Many nations have agreed to strengthen their commitments. Moreover, a new UN climate program on mitigation ambition, and the Paris Rulebook was eventually finalized. To deliver on these stretching targets, the presidency of the conference drove commitments to move away from coal power, halt and reverse deforestation, reduce methane emissions and speed up the switch to electric vehicles.

The Glasgow Climate package of decisions consisted of a range of agreed items, including strengthened efforts to build resilience to climate change, to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to provide the necessary finance for both. Nations reaffirmed their duty to fulfill the pledge of providing 100 billion dollars annually from developed to developing countries. They have collectively agreed to work to reduce the gap between existing emission reduction plans and what is required to reduce emissions, so that the rise in the global average temperature can be limited to 1.5 degrees. For the first time, nations were called upon globally to phase down unabated coal power and inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.

Renewable Energy as the ultimate alternate

Renewable energies are sources of clean, inexhaustible and increasingly competitive energy, taking over the world with power. They differ from fossil fuels principally in their diversity, abundance and potential for use anywhere on the planet, But above all hat they produce neither greenhouse gasses, which cause climate change nor polluting emissions. Their costs are also falling and at a sustainable rate, whereas the general cost trend for fossil fuels is in the opposite direction in spite of their present volatility.

Solar energy ranks as the top renewable energy source in the world

As technology advances, scientists and researchers are finding new alternative efficient ways to generate electricity. Solar energy is documented to be the one that stands out amongst all renewable energy resources.