Sustainable Food System or Sustainable Energy - Book Report/Review Example

 Sustainable energy TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.1………………..introduction…………………………………….page3 2.1………………..content review………………………………….page4 2.2………………..current usage of unsustainable energy………….page4 2.3………………..negative effects of unsustainable energy………..page7 2.4………………..usage and benefits of sustainable energy………..page9 3.1……………….conclusions……………………………………….page12 Sustainable energy 1.1 INTRODUCTION The world has always used different types of sources of energy to run the daily activities. A while back bulk of much of the energy came from fossil fuels and sources that are now being recognized as unsustainable. Question then is why the world is calling these helpful sources of energy as unsustainable while it has used them for numerous decades. The message has been passed around that countries need to change their sources of energy in order to reflect reality with the environment. Fossil fuel has been recognized as sources of energy that we should do away with. It is no longer about petty pollution caused by this sources of energy but it a matter that is closer to the heart of the planet, with research showing that our current civilization is endangered unless we cleaned our house. The effect of fossil fuels on the environment is such that, things have escalated and there is haste in replacement of the energy we use in heating necessity, transport system and the main one electricity. The target is to reconnect the environment to its former self, a time before the human activities threatened habitats and environment. Simply put the replacement agenda of unsustainable energy to the use of sustainable energy aims to formulate a world that is sustainable, clean and obviously green. Sustainable energy means the process of making present energy that will take care of our generation’s needs, without jeopardizing the ability of our next generations meeting their own demands too. Some of the main sources of sustainable energy sources being promoted include and does not end with-: I. Wind energy II. Geothermal energy III. Hydro electricity IV. Wave power V. Solar energy These are the sources of energy that scientists have identified as our future in energy provision if we want to maintain the coming generation. This report hence aims to devour the sources of conflict between unsustainable and sustainable energy sources. The report will handle the big question of the effect of unsustainable energy on the environment. On this interest too, it will handle sustainable energies and also the future of the world’s energy demands and industry. 2.1 CONTENT REVIEW 2.2 current use of unsustainable energy Patently unsustainable is the term that has been used to define the current trend of energy in the world. (IEA) is the agency that has issued such a bold statement. It cites pollution and economy as the main factors behind the warning. The agency in 2008 said that fossil fuels natural storage is getting harder to find. The cost relating to extracting of these fuels are getting more unfeasible than before. It has evolved to a case of huge money usage and high level fuel related pollution that is negatively affecting the environment. (IEA, 2008) Figure 1.1 IEA released data on the world usage, and the sources of energy that in the context if IEA means unsustainable can be seen on the first pie chart as very high. See figure 1.1.Thepie has a segment blue in color identified as renewable energy. That is the segment that represents sustainable energy. The use of fossil coal and oil is very high currently. And this is the trend that IEA is trying to change. The current developed countries used carbon emission driven industries to push their growth agenda. Fear is real that in the next few decades countries are going to develop at faster harboring large economies. With large economy there comes huge energy consumption and appetite. Fact is that the concentrations of carbon will get higher, and this is a negative for the environment (Evans, 2007). The year 2012 brought with it a rise in the percentage of energy use in the world. The world current leading energy consumer is china, a country considered as developing. Still among the top energy consumers India is another big consumer and yet still a developing country. If this is the trend that the other developing countries will follow then the consumption percentage will rise. A country like china was using the following mix of energy in 2008, as shown in figure 1.2 Figure 1.2(world nuclear agency) This energy mix shown in figure 1.2 above constitutes in large volumes usage of fossil sources that IEA has considered as unsustainable. India and the other top 30 developing countries in the world which form a list of the fastest developing, are in need of activating their growth agenda and in doing so, fossil fuel usage might get higher if uncontrolled. Currently, China is undoubtedly the world’s biggest consumer of energy. Research is showing that it might be using more than 70% more energy by 2030 than the United States. As such its current usage of a fossil fuel like coal is almost half of all the coal used in the world. According to IEA during their energy report release in November 2011, fossil fuels as energy source is taking up between 80 to 75% among all the countries in the world. The scenario is such that, currently for oil the world is taking up close to 87 million barrels in a day. Economics of all are that, only a few countries have the commodity hence cost and demand is ever high. 90% of the producers are in the Middle East region and northern Africa region. Much of the oil used in the developing countries is going towards aiding the transport industry and electricity generation (Maithani, 2008). Usage of coal as a source of energy is another dominant medium. 50% of the world’s energy needs are met through coal. In china this topic is next to survival, coal usage is accounting for more than half of the worlds. As people try harder to jump start their living standards, more of the oil and more of the coal will be demanded. Hence the use fossil fuels which are currently being termed us unsustainable accounts for the greatest percentage of energy source. Argument is that the developing countries need to take power to the poor people so that they can spur the economy. Projections by IEA and other related experts point that this dominance of the fossil fuel energy source will persist and dominate for 20 years to come. As such the oil and coal prices will continue rising by the day. 2.3 negative effects of unsustainable energy source According to IEA the world is throwing itself in a situation of "unsustainability" every single day. To make such a statement there is what the agency has noted. That will every tonnage use of a fossil fuel, there is a harmful effect which will make it impossible for the future of generation’s energy sustenance. While countries are reluctant in offering solutions to the current regime something else is happening. The emissions arising from the burning of these fuels are causing more harm. Analysts have directed our attention to the droughts and hurricanes currently happening. They cite that the factors causing these occurrences can be traced towards our use of unsustainable energy sources. Some of the negative problems arising from the usage of fossil fuels include-: I. Global warming-this occurs during the combustion of these fossil fuels. When the fuels are broken down in heat, they give out a gaseous by product. The gas emitted is CO2better known as carbon dioxide. Currently data is showing that, the level of the gas has increased by 25% in the atmosphere. There are facts showing that the fuels have also increased the percentage of methane and also nitrous oxide. A combination of all these gases, carbon dioxide especially creates a trap that holds heat within our atmosphere. Due to this, the temperature of our planet has risen from 0.3 to 0.62 degrees Celsius. Research is estimating that if the kind of gas release continues and increases in fact the temperature will also rise. This rise in the average temperature will bring about, droughts, rise in sea levels and other apocalyptic events will occur at a higher frequency threatening entire civilizations. II. Air pollution- the health of a person and healthy living depends on the air quality. Among the gases produced when a fossil fuel is burnt are carbon, nitrogen and oxides of sulphur. When these gases are produced they are normally released into the air. Combination of some of these gases brings about occurrences such as smog. Smog arises due to a combination of any hydrocarbon and nitrogenic oxides. Carbon monoxide is an emission familiar to cars and Lorries. This gas is also emitted in factories that use these fuels. It has the capacity to cause head upsets and a main source of heart ailments. Acidic is rain that has nitrogen and sulphur oxide elements. When the rain falls or it snows, the resulting acidic rain builds accumulation in the water bodies chocking away life. III. Water and land pollution-water can only be polluted during production or a transportation process. It is polluted during oil spillage of such magnitudes that the waters become inhabitable for some time. Many animals and plants die in the process. During coal combustion also it leads to some ashes and by products being left and ultimately they are washed away or either left on land. Mining of fuels such as coal greatly degrades the land and finally pollutes the environment. IV. Security, stability and cost- if all the countries in the world don’t become innovative enough to develop sustainable energy source to reduce pollution then at least for security reasons they should do it. If one country has to survive its oil imports, and it depends on another country for the oil. It can send an army to protect its interest’s even if it its foreign resources. Hence for stability there must be alternative energy sources. The cost is also another fact. The world has its eyes trained on the Middle East. If anything would happen on these countries, prices would go out of reach and this would affect many sections of the economy. (union of concerned scientists) Hence with that information, figure 1.3 shows the emissions of greenhouse gases in the world, according to the association of world nuclear. Figure 1.4 according to this diagram, coal, oil and lignite which are natural fossil sources of energy contribute the highest in terms of carbon and other emissions. It is this emission that is bringing about the above named and explained problems. In a summative manner, the environment is losing a lot and the survival of the civilization cannot be over emphasized. (IEA) 2.4 usage and benefits of sustainable energy According to the definition of sustainable energy, this is the push to the world such that it can produce energy in a way that even the future generations will be able to cater for their own needs. In a sustainable way it means producing energy mindful of the environment, mindful of the cost, stability, pollution and continuity (Evans, 2007). The constituents of sustainable energy are efficiency and renewal. In sustenance energy should be renewed and also the method of obtaining this energy should be efficient. Efficiency means in a way that future generations can be able to produce their own energy too. The production of this energy should be done such that it will be cost friendly. Some of the reasons why every stake holder wants adoption of sustainable energy include-: I. Sustainable energy will never be diminished. II. There is stability and countries cannot get involved in war to acquire sustainable energy. III. Most of these sustainable sources can be found locally, eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure. IV. Sustainable energies costs are falling, with even better prospects V. It remains to be an equally competitive source (Boyle, 2012) In the year 2009, IEA released data on the usage of renewable energies that are sustainable. 19.5% was the figure that was quoted for renewable energies. The uptake was low but it has gained momentum with the years. Currently the term sustainable energy is popular. In the USA Barack Obama with backing from congress, has set sail to revamp the way energy mix in the USA is standing. They want the economy to move away from oil and coal dependence. Among other things the issues cited are the impact on the environment. As a matter of policy the USA does not want to put their energy dependence on other countries. This has been identified as major cause of wars in future if the world does not shift. Projections are that more catastrophic occurrences will happen, and the poorest nations in the world will suffer, for the actions of the developed countries. A study conducted by IEA says that, for us to reduce extreme events like drought and floods we must protect the environment. All this is an attempt to stabilize the concentration of carbon dioxide. Their study said that in order for us to keep the temperatures at below 3 degrees by the year 2030, countries need to come together and invest huge in sustainable energies. The figure brought forward was around $4.2 trillion in terms of investment in sustainable energies. That kind of money was projected to bring more hydro, wind, biomass, and renewable energy sources. (IEA) The picture that was painted by IEA is that, prosperity of the human being is dependent on sustainable energy that is affordable and effective. That is why many countries have started appreciating the concept of sustainable energies. The UK for instance has cut on the usage of coal and oil albeit in very minor proportions. So what are the main benefits associated with sustainable energy adoption. Some of these are direct benefits to the environment and economy. They can be summarized as-: I. Natural resources will not be depleted. II. The environment will win big with less effect on it. III. Future and current needs of energy will be met in an efficient manner. IV. It will lead to safety and future generation’s protection. V. Protection of air and water from pollution will be possible. VI. Results in less or very minimal emissions of greenhouse gases. The future of sustainable energy sources is bright if at all the present indications are staffs to go by. The USA has committed to cut huge tonnes of emissions. The UK projects that its future of energy will be dependent on renewability. Figure 1.5 shows the projections of source of electricity for a country like the UK. If imitated by other countries this will be a win for the environment (Boyle, 2012) Figure 1.5 3.1 CONCLUSIONS Sustainable energy hence the report can conclude that it is of absolute importance. The dangers of using fossil energy are real as explained earlier. Though it will expensive to implement sustainable energy policy, this is something that has been passed by the times. Hence in my own opinion the world is running to catch a bus that passed it slumbering. When we speak of the future of the human species being in danger, the current generation should here those words. The future can either be dim or it can be bright. This means that there can either be wars on energy or clean environment. Since estimates show that we are nearing the depletion of our natural resources in search of energy then the stakeholders should be fully aware of the magnitude of this issue. It is hence the conclusion of this paper that, the world should adopt clean and efficient sources of energy based on the principles of sustainable energy. The benefits of this adoption will far out way the benefits of status quo. Developing countries need not use fossils first to develop then later use renewals, the countries can adopt renewals now and build proper economies with environment conscious populations. References AGENCE INTERNATIONALE DE L'ÉNERGIE, & ORGANISATION DE COOPÉRATION ET DE DÉVELOPPEMENT ÉCONOMIQUES. (2006). Renewable energy RD&D priorities : insights from IEA technology programmes. Paris, OECD/IEA. BOYLE, G. (2012). Renewable energy: power for a sustainable future. Oxford, Oxford University Press in association with the Open University. EVANS, R. L. (2007). Fueling our future: an introduction to sustainable energy. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. GALARRAGA, I., GONZALEZ-EGUINO, M., & MARKANDYA, A. (2011). Handbook of Sustainable Energy. Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Pub. MAITHANI, P. C. (2008). Renewable energy in the global context. New Delhi, Concept Pub. Co. Read More