The Invading Sea
  • About
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • In the News
  • Resources
    • What You Can Do
    • Frequently Asked Questions
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
  • About
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • In the News
  • Resources
    • What You Can Do
    • Frequently Asked Questions
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
No Result
View All Result

The sure cure for global warming is to switch from fossil fuels to wind and solar energy

by Contributors
October 9, 2019
in Influencers
0

There is consensus that the world faces an environmental emergency.

Here’s evidence: students leading an international climate strike; teenager Greta Thunberg chastising leaders at the United Nations; Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach planning to build higher sea walls; the University of Central Florida hosting the recent Climate Correction Conference.

Eliminating carbon-dioxide emitting fossil fuels is at the heart of the solution to alleviate our climate crisis.

Susan Kaye

What would a world without fossil fuels be like? There would be no more removal of mountain tops for mining, no more oil spills or unsightly pipelines, no more smelly, polluting auto emissions, no more fracked water. It’s so much more than climate change. This world without fossil fuels will be more livable, beautiful and full of life.

While it may seem like an impossible dream, we’ve made numerous lifestyle changes before, both as individuals and as a society. Many of us have given up things we thought we couldn’t live without, like cigarettes and trans-fats, only to discover we were better off without them. We’ve gone from horses to cars, from sails to steam engines, from landlines to cell phones.

We use most of our fossil fuel for power generation, transportation and heating.  However, we have access to alternate, renewable sources of energy. We can power our homes and our cars while switching to a more sustainable path.  As a matter of fact, The International Energy Agency calculated that two-thirds of the power added to the planet’s energy grid in 2016 was from renewables. And the cost of solar and wind energy is getting more and more affordable.

Louis Merlin

There are benefits to our economy, too. A recent Deutsche Bank study of 1,600 companies as reported by Barron’s magazine, showed that over the past 20 years the stocks of those releasing “positive” news about their climate footprint outpaced those of companies that didn’t. Rather than financially propping up the coal and oil industries, we should invest in clean energy sources and create new jobs.

Here’s a sure cure for global warming: Just Say No! No more investments in fossil fuels. The time to switch to clean energy is now.

Louis Merlin is an assistant professor at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida Atlantic University and the Boca Raton chapter leader for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Susan Kaye is a sales and marketing professional and CCL volunteer.

“The Invading Sea” is part of the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a collaborative of news organizations across the state focusing on the threats posed by the warming climate.

 

Tags: citizens' climate lobbyDeutsche BankFlorida Atlantic UniversityGreta ThunbergInternational Energy AgencyLouis MerlinSusan Kaye
Previous Post

Business and government need to work together to save South Florida from the economic threats posed by climate change

Next Post

We can all take steps to reduce the depression and anxiety caused by climate change and extreme weather

Related Posts

Black, Latinx and tribal communities bear burden of health issues caused by COVID, air pollution
Influencers

Dear Senators Rubio and Scott: Florida needs federal money to cope with climate change

by Claude Gerstle
November 15, 2020
The presidential election will determine whether my grandchild will have to cope with a climate catastrophe
Influencers

The presidential election will determine whether my grandchild will have to cope with a climate catastrophe

by Carrie Scherpelz
October 21, 2020
Severe storms are more evidence that the warming climate is a serious threat and we need to respond quickly
Influencers

Severe storms are more evidence that the warming climate is a serious threat and we need to respond quickly

by John Van Leer
September 18, 2020
Next Post
We can all take steps to reduce the depression and anxiety caused by climate change and extreme weather

We can all take steps to reduce the depression and anxiety caused by climate change and extreme weather

Twitter Facebook

About the Project

The Invading Sea is a collaboration by news organizations across Florida to address the threat we face from sea-level rise. We want to raise awareness, amplify the voice of our region and create a call to action that can’t be ignored. Read More

Archives

Categories

Audio Editorials Influencers In The News Other The Business of Climate Change Video

Watch How the Water Will Rise

sea level rise map
See what happens to your neighborhood as the sea level rises with this interactive map from Climate Central.

© 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • In the News
  • Resources
    • What You Can Do
    • Frequently Asked Questions

© 2021 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In