What energy for the planet?
In a world that continues to march at multiple speeds, the few rich countries continue to pretend to make the choices for everyone else as well.
Renewables or fossils? Solar, wind, coal, hydrogen, electric… in this jungle of options, conferences and seminars, analyses and comparisons, laws and appeals to laws are debated, in the name of a superficial fairness where the West continues to want to dictate its own voice, forgetting that times change, societies change, economic systems evolve. We talk about electric cars or even hydrogen cars and we forget that only 1 in 10 new cars is still electric and is sold in Europe or the United States. We encourage solar and wind as alternative energy sources and we do not realize that 90% of the world still runs on coal, wood and gas. Where is the problem? The answer is in one word: inequality.
We cannot continue to think and act by pretending that 6 billion people do not exist and that they must continue to be "guided" (but the more accurate word would be "commanded") by the tiny minority of only 2 billion. In 2023, Switzerland produced 53.43% of its energy from renewable sources, the whole of Europe reached only 22% between solar and wind, 52.57% for the United States. We are talking about significant percentages (in part) referring in any case to great powers that, in any case, denote how the dependence on fossil fuels is still very significant for these rich, highly urbanized and technologically advanced areas. What happens if we look at developing countries? Africa has 60% of the best solar resources in the world, but currently the African continent has a negligible share (about 1%) of global photovoltaic capacity. In South America there are proclamations of great potential and dizzying growth of renewable sources, up to 450% more, but we are stuck with declarations, nothing concrete is being done yet. China boasts 40% of the installed solar and wind but we must consider that coal still boasts a 37% share for energy production.
There is something wrong, even in those countries that declare themselves strongly “green” and that want to continue to show the way. In the next 7 years, investments in renewables are expected to double while fossil fuels should be halved: we are now close to the completion of the objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (and therefore we must hurry). But will it really be possible? If we continue to ignore 2/3 of the planet, how can we think of starting to travel all together? Africa, still, is only grazed by investments in renewables: to date it attracts only 2% of global resources compared to an inestimable potential and we are talking about a continent where 600 million people do not have access to electricity, equal to 43% of the entire population. The same goes for Latin America: “the rest of the world is not doing its part” is written in a report by the International Energy Agency regarding the situation in South America.
Not to mention the effect of climate change that is also significantly impacting the design of areas where renewable energy infrastructures are to be installed: the extremization of atmospheric phenomena requires special attention because where there was once perennial sunshine now there are downpours, where there was once precious wind now there are devastating hurricanes. The climate and environmental paradigm is distorted and, once again, it is the developing countries that suffer the most and passively endure its effects.
We cannot continue to demand innovation and change in those countries where the first industrial revolution has not yet taken place, declaring that "there is no more time to save the planet". What have the rich powers done so far? They have continued on their way without looking at anything or anyone. How can they now demand an ecological transition carried out by the entire world? Perhaps it is time to "renew" minds and consciences even before energies, to then build an ethical and common path of social, economic, environmental equity that authentically leads to finding energy sources capable of breaking down inequalities.