What's the good news story about climate change? For me, it is the exciting transition to a low-carbon economy.
The new low-carbon world will benefit billions of people by:
- Reducing prices/costs – reducing the cost of energy as fossil fuel prices soar. California wind and solar generators have signed contracts to deliver electricity for less than the cost of gas generators. Solar PV is cheaper than diesel in places as sunny as Spain.
- Providing jobs – job creation in clean energy outdoes fossil fuels by a margin of 3-to-1. In Europe there are 1.1 million people are employed in renewable energy.
- Security – homegrown renewable energy gives certainty of supply that can't be provided by importing fossil fuels.
Right now I can add to my rooftop solar PV for about $4,000 and eliminate electricity bills. Forever. It will take four years to recoup the $4,000 investment, after that I get free electricity.
I look forward to the first plug-in hybrid cars. They will eliminate my petrol bills except for occasional long trips. My current Prius saves me $1,000 a year in fuel bills, compared with my previous car.
I also want to see solar and wind power in the poorest countries – funded by carbon offset programs. A quarter of the world's population does not have electricity at all. I want them to get clean power.
What's YOUR good news story?
