Many nations are beginning to recognize the importance of acting now to minimize the threat of climate change. Germany, long a leader in renewable energy, declared in January 2019 that over the next 19 years, it would shut its 84 remaining coal-fired power plants and replace them with alternative, greener energy sources. Although hesitation was expressed at the time from various public sectors, many key players have since jumped on board with the initiative, including prominent energy company RWE. This is a monumental move on Germany’s part, as most scientists agree that the continued failure to aggressively tackle climate change could lead to unprecedented disaster.
Already, the world has witnessed a sharp increase in the size and number of hurricanes and wildfires. If global temperatures continue to rise unabated, many of the world’s largest cities may find themselves underwater. Hopefully, other nations will learn from Germany’s lead and institute their own measures for minimizing the environmental impact of energy production. Let’s look into how exactly Germany is doing that.
The Details of Germany’s Measure
A governmental coalition of Germany’s leaders announced that all remaining coal facilities would close their doors within the next 19 years. Previously, the nation ranked as one of Europe’s largest consumers of coal, but in recent years the country has taken measures to reduce its dependence on this non-renewable energy source. This latest move will help enable Germany to live up to its international agreement to reduce emissions as part of the Paris Climate Accord.
This isn’t the first time Germany has taken swift action to address pressing environmental problems. Following the Fukushima nuclear reactor shutdown in 2011, the country vowed to shutter all its nuclear power plants by 2022. This means German citizens will soon rely primarily on energy generated from wind and solar sources.
Prominent German energy company RWE has already ceased investing in new coal-fired power stations. In an April press release it stated that it intends to focus solely on generating electricity from sources that are renewable and that “have a place in [its] future-oriented strategy.”
Renewable energy started to edge out coal as a power source in Germany last year, and by 2040, national leaders hope that up to 80 percent of all the country’s energy will come from renewable sources.
Some business leaders have harshly criticized the measures, claiming that the shift will cause costs to rise precipitously. However, in the long run the consequences of continuing to ignore the reality of climate change far outweigh any temporary price increases, as environmental catastrophes will continue to wreak havoc and destruction.
Why Other Nations Must Follow Germany’s Lead
The probability that human actions influence the global rise in temperature tops 95 percent. Since the 1950s, the level of carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere has increased substantially, and within only a few decades ocean temperatures have climbed nearly half a percent.
This may not sound like much, especially to deniers who point out that the Earth’s climate has historically fluctuated over time; however the difference between current and previous cooling or warming trends lies in the increased pace of temperature rise. Evolution demands that those organisms best suited to survival in changing climates live on, but the breakneck speed at which global temperatures are rising makes it uncertain how many current species could actually survive.
Few countries declined to sign the Paris Agreement, and those who did refuse rank among the biggest polluters. The U.S., under Trump’s leadership, not only withdrew from the accord but also lowered the bar in terms of industrial pollution standards.
Even nations that agreed to combat climate change vary widely in their compliance with the terms. Many set lofty goals they later found unattainable. Nevertheless, any progress in the battle against global warming may help cushion the consequences.
Economic Consequences of Ignoring Climate Change
In addition to causing the loss of human and animal lives alike, failure to address climate change will lead to heavy financial consequences. Stronger hurricanes and more widespread wildfires will eat up significant portions of national budgets. Those displaced by such disasters will require aid generated through tax dollars, which may lead to heftier tax bills for all.
Droughts caused by climate change will hinder the available food supply, and given the extent of world hunger, such droughts could lead to millions of more deaths from starvation. In addition, the price of groceries will increase, potentially leading to greater long-term health costs associated with eating lower priced, less nutritious meals.
Damage to infrastructure from environmental catastrophes will lead to further expenditure, with damage to plumbing infrastructure possibly promoting the spread of infectious diseases through contaminated water, leading to rising healthcare costs.
The Time for Action Is Now
The time has come for the world to realize the enormous consequences of continued global warming. Unless more nations follow Germany’s lead, the loss of resources and human lives will usher in an age of sorrow — one that we can still avert with common-sense action on the part of the entire international community.
What’s New…
Hooray for Germany. Let them be a goal for other countries to attain.
Why do you persist publishing false and misleading information under the guise of truth ? The IPCC published a report last year in which it stated that in the preceding twenty years there had been NO increase in the frequency or severity of hurricanes worldwide. It also stated that there is NO EVIDENCE of increase in the number or severity of droughts worldwide.
Try publishing facts even tho they may not fit your socialist agenda.
Thank you
Thanks for the read.
It would be better if the need to end the use of fossil fuels were expeessed in terms of ecological harm rather than climate change. Fossil fuels cause much more harm than just the climate change due to carbon dioxide (and ascaped methane). Coal mines and the roads that lead to them are responsible for the destruction of forests and other natural habitats, the killing of native plants and animals and violence against indigenous peoples. The same applies to drilliing for oil and gas on land. Drilling for oil under the sea can cause pollution and kill many marine animals and plants. Burning fossil fuels does not just produce carbon dioxide but many pollutants that are harmful to humans and other living beings and the environment. Nuclear power has a lot of these issues as well as radioactive waste. Biomass and biofuels can be even worse than fossil fuels since they lead to the increased destruction of tropical and other forests and can divert agricultural land away from food production. Solar photovoltaic cells should be placed on buildings (not just the roofs of houses but also on the walls of office buildings, since they look like dark glass) instead of taking up natural habitats or agricultural land; they should be recycled at the end of their life and not contain minerals that contribute to war or other harm to humans and ecological destruction. (Note: I am using a smartphone now but excessive use of ekectronic media in the past few years has meant that I stopped buying paper newspapers and I have halved food consumption since I am physically inactive).
Error in my 1st sentence: “expeessed” should be “expressed” or “stated” would be even better.
Bravo! Germany, bravo! I am so proud of Germany, the leaders of the world. Perhaps someday the US and other countries will follow in your footsteps. Don‘t let any of these coal-producing countries talk you out of it. Just press on with technology and leave the foolish in the dust. Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt.
Please Help!!!
Wunderbar! The USA needs to get its head out of its nether region and follow Germany’s lead. The USA is no longer a world leader, and instead is growing more pathetic by the day. Not a wish, merely fact. I hope that Germany and like- minded nations find success in this endeavor; our planet depends on it.
You need to do the same and use less power .. being green is a personal responsibility and not a government ..I use very little power about 5000 total watt hours a day .. you realize germany’s power rates have absolutely skyrocketed and because of the coal plants they retired from earlier solar and wind measures they import nuclear power from france to make up for it .. putting this on government’s won’t solve anything get your own head out of your ass and use 1/4 of what you do now that’s the real answer .. just wait till the majority of cars run on batteries.. the grid will need to be triple the size it is now .