The report begins by briefly discussing the current emissions of countries and the world as a whole.\u00a0 Quickly, it shifts to the topic of energy efficiency.\u00a0 Currently the system of creating usable energy is extremely wasteful because about \u201ctwo thirds of the primary energy fed into power plants is released unused into the environment as heat\u201d (Swain, 9).\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Denmark, Germany, and China are among the countries cited as beginning to make the transition to renewable energy.\u00a0 Yes, China is investing to some extent in renewable energy, but they are still the largest emitters of carbon dioxide and\u00a0are constantly building new coal fire plants.\u00a0 In addition to the energy efficiency of power plants, they say that buildings and transportation need to be much more efficient.\u00a0 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\u2019s political structure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The United States is a prime example of how political structure prevents these developmental changes from occurring.\u00a0 Generally speaking, very little is accomplished because representatives are coming from vastly different angles.\u00a0 This is a microcosm of how international climate negotiations tend to go.\u00a0 Every country has different interests and varying levels to which they will compromise.\u00a0 In the summary of the report, the authors outline three political actions that must take place so that the energy transformation can occur.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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- Put a price on carbon <\/a>that increases over time.<\/li>\n
- Enact policies that overcome institutional and regulatory barriers and path-dependencies and drive the required revolution.<\/li>\n
- 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).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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<\/a>"Change the Politics...Save the Climate." The Climate Clock is Ticking<\/p><\/div>\n
In theory, these three actions ought to take place immediately, however, in reality that is impossible.\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Basically, this report outlines exactly what needs to occur to combat climate change, yet the timeline does not seem feasible given the world\u2019s current state.\u00a0 Countries need to cooperate and change policy rapidly.\u00a0 History does not give us much of a reason to believe that climate negotiation will suddenly jump on track with this report\u2019s advice, but we will see in Durban<\/a>first hand if countries can come together and cooperate.\u00a0 Some people have high hopes, and others are not so optimistic.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
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Work Cited:<\/p>\n
Sawin & Moomaw, Renewable revolution: low-carbon energy by 2030, Worldwatch Institute, 2009.<\/p>\n