A Summary of Jacobson and Delucchi's "A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030"

            Every now and then, world leaders converge to discuss the current issues regarding the environment and global climate change. They discuss a shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and enter agreements to cut back emissions by a certain percentage. Jacobson and Delucchi suggests that by finding new methods and developing technologies that already exist, we are able to become 100% independent from the use of fossil fuels.

            It is a bold endeavor, one that has been in the fold for over a decade, and complicated from a logistical point of view. A Stanford University study had determined the impact of global warming supplied by current available energies. The best options that had little impact on climate were wind, water, and sunlight, what they have labeled WWS energy. The energies which had major impact—not surprisingly—were nuclear, coal, ethanol, oil and natural gas. By trading these carbon emitting energies with renewable energy, the fight to curb climate change may not be an impossible task.

            But replacing our current energy systems with WWS options requires a major overhaul of our current practices. The massive scale of the project requires a coordinated effort from world nations embracing a community model of energy. The plan would call for millions of wind turbines and new power plants that run strictly on solar power. If it were possible to achieve the desired goals proposed by Jacobson and Delucchi, it would ultimately depend on the technologies implemented, and the “availability of critical materials, and economic and political factors.”

            There are, however, certain obstacles which stand in the way; the infrastructure and scope of the project is not the barrier, but the availability of limited or scarce materials which pose a greater challenge. The lack of rare-earth metals like lithium can impede the production of battery cells used in electric vehicles, and other metals such as neodymium used for wind turbines can be in short supply. Assuming we are able to replace the existing model of energy with new infrastructure that is reliable in providing clean energy, the rewards can surpass our wildest expectations. WWS technologies can drive down the price of energy to less than the current price of coal, and the “cost of capital, land, operations, maintenance, and energy storage will help offset intermittent supply, and transmission.”

            The analysis of new energy resources provided by Jacobson and Dulucchi suggests that the costs of WWS will be competitive with current sources of energy. The initial cost may seem steep—but in the long run, the benefits outweigh the negatives. It will take changes in political policies (which may include removing tax benefits for current industry, and providing subsidies to developing technologies) and the phasing out of burning fossil fuel to alternative clean energy. With good policies in place, ones with clear objective goals for the future, it is not impossible to be completely independent of carbon emitting energy in the span of 20 to 30 years—if we are aggressive. The obstacles in the way do not stem from a lack of technical know-how, but rest solely on political motives of nations around the world.

Critical Thinking: What is the most effective way to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions?

There are many ways where we can cut back on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere. In the highest level, it would involve putting policies in place which would discourage companies and corporations from over-polluting, such as a carbon tax. Subsidies can also be provided to new developing technologies in order to transition away from the burning of fossil fuels. Educating people of the detrimental effects greenhouse gases have on the environment provide another means in the efforts to curb climate change by developing a more intimate connection to the natural world. When it comes to the individual, finding other means of transportation as an effective alternative to getting around can also help the growing problem of greenhouse gases released in the air. The most important step is admitting there is a problem.

Works Cited

Mark Z. Jacobson and Mark A. Delucchi. “A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030.” Sources:                                    Selections in Environmental Studies. Ed. Thomas Easton. United States, 2014. 73-75.