Embracing a diverse approach to a globally inclusive green energy transition- Moving beyond decarbonisation and recognising realistic carbon reduction strategies
The green energy transition is aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change. Yet, the current emphasis on ‘green’ is narrowly centred around decarbonisation, or CO2 reduction, often side-lining the roles of other gases, such as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and PCF-14 (CF4), which have a respective 24,300- and 7380-times higher global warming potential than CO2 on a time horizon of a century. In addition, any energy transition is a complex affair that simultaneously impacts the environmental, economic and social systems, with significant system-level interactions. For example, the material requirement for renewable energy is known to be substantial, at a factor of 15 times greater than natural gas-based energy for offshore wind generation, and almost 7 times greater for solar. The resulting increased competition for materials is reducing the appetite for global collaboration. In addition, the global capacity to deploy renewable energy technology or participate in climate change mitigation is geographically variable and no single solution is universally viable. This study examines an expanded definition of ‘green’ energy and proposes a beyond-decarbonisation approach that is more comprehensive and globally inclusive, in pursuit for a sustainable transition. The increased diversity of our approach promises advantages such as heightened global collaboration, diminished geopolitical tension, improved energy access, expanded market opportunities, and socio-environmental co-benefits. Strategies pivotal to this approach involve understanding the role of carbon-based energy systems in the transition, amplifying renewable resources, augmenting cross-sector energy efficiency, implementing effective carbon markets, and integrating nature-based as well as carbon removal technologies. Moreover, it is imperative to implement all-cost and all-benefit monitoring and evaluation systems to optimise existing decarbonisation methods systematically. This could entail the use of composite metrics that normalise the gain in climate change mitigation against economic, social or environmental metrics. Addressing societal apprehensions requires a focus on pragmatic and fair outcomes, geopolitical stability, market impacts, developmental objectives, effective public engagement, and recognition of the role of enterprises. Policymakers are important in fostering global synergy by implementing policies that encourage international collaboration, investment, enterprise engagement, institution fortification, and cross-sector policy integration.
History
School affiliated with
- School of Chemistry (Research Outputs)
Publication Title
Embracing a diverse approach to a globally inclusive green energy transition: Moving beyond decarbonisation and recognising realistic carbon reduction strategiesVolume
434Pages/Article Number
140414Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
ISSN
0959-6526Date Submitted
2023-10-04Date Accepted
2023-12-25Date of First Publication
2023-12-28Date of Final Publication
2024-01-31Relevant SDGs
- SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13 - Climate Action
- SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 15 - Life on Land
- SDG 16 - Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Open Access Status
- Open Access
Date Document First Uploaded
2024-01-08Usage metrics
Categories
- H220 - Environmental engineering
- H221 - Energy resources
- H223 - Environmental impact assessment
- H810 - Chemical engineering
- J100 - Minerals technology
- J140 - Minerals processing
- J210 - Applied metallurgy
- J510 - Materials technology
- J910 - Energy technologies
- F100 - Chemistry
- F110 - Applied chemistry
- F111 - Industrial chemistry
- F140 - Environmental chemistry
- F200 - Materials science
- F751 - Applied environmental sciences