In 2018, the IPCC released an executive summary which stated that ethical considerations must be made in order to understand the critical implications that climate change has on our planet. Furthermore, the report states that there will be crucial impacts with the global temperature warming to and beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, and that impoverished and vulnerable people/areas will be disproportionately impacted by these effects. There is additional consideration of poverty eradication, sustainable development, and climate action through the Paris Agreement, which enacts a global endeavor to actively tackle the climate crisis and to further the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Steve Davis, a University of California professor in Earth System Science, stated that “depending on the country, there may be many multi-day periods throughout the year when some demand will need to be met by energy storage and other non-fossil energy sources in a zero-carbon future.” Studies by researchers from over 39 years of data, and from 42 countries found that solar and wind has the potential to sustain the needs of larger countries, such as Canada.

According to these studies, countries which are closer to the equator can convert sustainable power resources effectively, due to the higher availability of solar throughout the year. Additionally, countries with greater land mass, such as Canada – can. The researchers also found land mass to be a factor in terms of reliability. Countries with the largest land areas, such as Canada, had the most reliable solar and wind systems.

The message is clear – when there is great potential for hydro, solar and wind, there is also more potential for sustainable energy use, and economic savings. The switch to renewable energy can also eliminate between 4 to 7 deaths from air pollution annually through mitigation and stabilizing the global energy sector. According to the World Health Organization, 9 out of 10 people on the planet breathe polluted air, and this can lead to life-threatening diseases. Pollution from fossil fuels causes 7 million deaths worldwide among developing countries and middle-income nations. This is largely due to toxic fumes from coal, wood, and other cooking fossil fuels.
Recent reports have also stated, despite the ambitious targets, there are countless technologies that are available which would enable a global transition towards renewable energy systems and keep our globe well below the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Challenges exist, and targets are ambitious. Still, the reports all conclude that the technology exists for the world to transition to a fully sustainable energy system by 2050, which should keep the planet below the 1.5° Paris global warming target. Solar energy and wind energy can mitigate climate change and contribute towards positive sustainable development, which will mean less extreme weather events caused through GHG emissions and the warming of our planet.

A renewable future could also power economic development, as well as sustainable development. There have been correlations drawn within research between the cost of solar and wind going down, which will eventually lead to the outpricing of fossil fuels long term. To collectively change the future and gravity of the climate emergency, we must address our global need for renewables, it must be both recognized and implemented by researchers, policymakers, stakeholders, and business leaders everywhere. The urgency for renewables calls for collective modifications in both individual lifestyles and governance, but together, we can transition towards sustainable energy and a bright, renewable future.