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Energy

ENERGY AND ALTERNATIVE SOURCES

Using alternative and renewable energy sources

Access to cost effective and reliable energy is essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of fossil fuel supplies among countries, and the critical need to widely access energy resources, has led to significant vulnerabilities. Threats to global energy security include political instability of energy producing countries, manipulation of energy supplies, competition over energy sources, attacks on supply infrastructure, as well as accidents and natural disasters.

Alternative and renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and water are increasingly being turned to in order for individual countries to become more self-sustaining in terms of their energy production and usage.

The Societal Benefits of Renewables

 

"The economic and environmental benefits of renewables are so obvious that the social dividends are often overlooked. But they are significant and need to be better measured, communicated and realized if we are to make the step change in clean energy deployment that is needed over the next decade and beyond.

Modern renewables first help to reduce the significant health burdens imposed by fossil fuels and traditional sources of energy. Much progress has been made in improving health and safety in the oil, gas and coal industries. But many thousands still lose their lives each year in the extraction and processing of these fuels. Many more have their lives cut short by the health impacts of energy-related pollution, notably women in developing countries who use biomass in inefficient and polluting stoves.

So much for cutting the negative – decentralized renewables also offer the potential for the greatest surge in well-being in human history by bringing electricity for light, power, health, education and sheer enjoyment to the billion who lack access to modern services. Only renewables can 'light a billion lives'. In the process, a new service sector of renewable entrepreneurs will be created – at a cost per job far less than fossil fuels.

 

The ultimate prize is to base the global economy on a foundation of renewable energy that removes many of the current causes of global insecurity. Fossil fuels invariably bring a resource curse of corruption, inequality and conflict in their wake. By contrast, renewables offer a resource blessing, yielding the real possibility for the entire world's people to access to a source of energy that intrinsically reinforces the spirit of global co-operation and development. Now that's a social benefit worth pressing for."

Ritu Kumar, TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute