Politics and Time

By: Anna McGinn ’14

Janet L. Sawin and William R. Moomaw’s report, “Renewable Revolution: Low Carbon Energy by2030,”offers quite a positive and uplifting assessment of the world’s situation as it pertains to climate change in the next twenty years.  Actually, the tone was so encouraging that I started to question the legitimacy of some of the statements they make.  But the difference between this article and most other research we have assessed on this topic is that the focus of this report is on what the world is doing well in regards to renewable energy, and not so much the degree to which it is failing.  Yet, it makes the transition to renewable resources sound too easy. This report acknowledges the fact that policies are pivotal for their emission projections to be realized, but the possibility of climate policies and agreements on a national and international level supporting the targets outlined in this article is slim.  Although the idea that the entire world should be able to transition to renewable energy sources in the next few decades is desirable, current national and international politics do not work at that speed or efficiency. 

The report begins by briefly discussing the current emissions of countries and the world as a whole.  Quickly, it shifts to the topic of energy efficiency.  Currently the system of creating usable energy is extremely wasteful because about “two thirds of the primary energy fed into power plants is released unused into the environment as heat” (Swain, 9).  They go on to say that although the system is currently inefficient, some countries have started to create higher quality facilities and to use renewable energy sources.  Denmark, Germany, and China are among the countries cited as beginning to make the transition to renewable energy.  Yes, China is investing to some extent in renewable energy, but they are still the largest emitters of carbon dioxide and are constantly building new coal fire plants.  In addition to the energy efficiency of power plants, they say that buildings and transportation need to be much more efficient.  I completely agree with their point that to combat climate change we must alter the way the world develops to be more energy efficient, but it does not seem feasible in the time frame given because of the world’s political structure. 

The United States is a prime example of how political structure prevents these developmental changes from occurring.  Generally speaking, very little is accomplished because representatives are coming from vastly different angles.  This is a microcosm of how international climate negotiations tend to go.  Every country has different interests and varying levels to which they will compromise.  In the summary of the report, the authors outline three political actions that must take place so that the energy transformation can occur. 

1. Put a price on carbon that increases over time.
2. Enact policies that overcome institutional and regulatory barriers and path-dependencies and drive the required revolution.
3. Develop a strategy for phasing out existing, inefficient carbon-emitting capital stock (such as old coal-fired power plants) that includes elimination of fossil fuel subsidies (Swain, 6).

"Change the Politics...Save the Climate." The Climate Clock is Ticking

In theory, these three actions ought to take place immediately, however, in reality that is impossible.  These actions require an overhaul of societal structure as we know it, and it is going to take time and cooperation to an extent the world has not seen before. 

Basically, this report outlines exactly what needs to occur to combat climate change, yet the timeline does not seem feasible given the world’s current state.  Countries need to cooperate and change policy rapidly.  History does not give us much of a reason to believe that climate negotiation will suddenly jump on track with this report’s advice, but we will see in Durbanfirst hand if countries can come together and cooperate.  Some people have high hopes, and others are not so optimistic.   

Work Cited:

Sawin & Moomaw, Renewable revolution: low-carbon energy by 2030, Worldwatch Institute, 2009.

Photo and Caption Credit: http://climatechange.thinkaboutit.eu/think4/post/greenpeace_on_the_roof_climate_clock_is_ticking