In order to avoid climate chaos—and reduce the smog and other air pollutants that are harming Americans’ lungs—the United States must rapidly transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy. This means reducing our consumption of energy as well as ensuring the energy we use comes from clean, renewable sources including wind, solar and geothermal power.
The good news is that we have the economic and technological capacity to bring about the changes we need. The bad news is that not enough elected officials, many of whom still take contributions from dirty fossil fuel industries, have demonstrated the political will. It is our job not only to reduce our own personal energy use but also to create that political will.
How do we get there?
Repowering our economy with clean energy won’t be easy, and it will take engagement from each of us (see further below) as well as leadership from our elected officials.
What government can do
There is no single silver bullet solution to our nation’s energy problems, but there are an array of complementary policies that can work together to build a clean energy infrastructure. These policies, supported by Friends of the Earth, are valuable for more than just environmental reasons—they will also create green jobs and strengthen our economy:
- A price on carbon. Dirty energy sources, especially coal, have a huge cost for human health and are the biggest cause of the climate crisis. At present, these costs are “externalities,” meaning they are not accounted for in the market price of energy. By charging corporate polluters for their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, we will help fix this market failure and ensure that the true cost of electricity is reflected in its market price. This will lead power companies to reduce their use of dirty fossil fuels. The two most commonly discussed policy mechanisms for putting a price on carbon are a “carbon tax” or a “cap-and-auction” system in which 100 percent of pollution permits are sold at auction.
- A national renewable electricity standard. One easy way for the government to get utilities to use more clean energy is to require it. With a renewable electricity standard, the government orders utilities to generate a certain percentage of their energy from clean, renewable sources by a given year. How to accomplish this goal is up to the utilities.
- Stop subsidizing pollution and start investing in clean energy. The government currently wastes tens of billions of dollars each year in giveaways to fossil fuel industries. These giveaways should end, and money should be invested in energy efficiency retrofits, the deployment of clean energy solutions, and research into future clean technologies.
- Spread clean energy around the world. The United States first became wealthy through industrialization that depended on our use of fossil fuels, and a consequence is that we have emitted more global warming pollution than any other country. If the planet is to avoid catastrophic outcomes from global warming, other countries won’t be able to develop the same way—but they still have a right to develop. The United States and other wealthy countries have a moral responsibility (as well as a legal one) to assist less-affluent countries as they transition to clean energy economies.
What individuals can do
Individual actions to reduce energy use are important, but without coordinated action at the societal level, we cannot solve this problem. Therefore the most important thing you can do is become politically engaged by voting for candidates who promise to hasten our transition to clean energy, and after they are elected, staying in touch and keeping up the pressure to ensure they follow through on their promises (which hopefully include the policies mentioned above). But at the same time, it’s a big help if you take energy smart steps at home, at work, and while you travel. Here are some tips:
- Make homes and buildings more efficient with proper insulation and doors and windows that shut tightly, without drafts.
- Put on an extra layer of clothes to stay warm rather than turning up the heat in the winter, and find ways to use less air conditioning in the summer.
- Embrace energy efficiency, with smart light bulbs and appliances, and turn off appliances and turn out the lights when you leave a room.
- Drive less—walking, biking, telecommuting, and taking public transportation more often.
- When you do drive, carpool and use fuel-efficient cars.
- Buy less stuff. The production of consumer products uses energy and natural resources and causes pollution. The less stuff you buy, the better off our planet will be.
- Use wind or solar power, at home or purchased from your local utility.
For more ideas about steps you can take at the individual level to speed our transition to a clean energy economy, visit:
