9. What is being done to stop the deterioration of the environment?

Some important measures have been in place for a long time and others that have been implemented in recent times. Let us see:

The Green Hydrogen Catapult

This is exceptionally good news. In December 2020, seven global power generation companies announced the formation of a global coalition that will accelerate the scale and production of green hydrogen. With this action they intend to multiply production 50 times in six years, helping to transform the most carbon-intensive industries in the world, including electricity generation, chemical products, steel manufacturing and air and maritime transport. The initiative aims to reduce costs to less than $ 2 / kg per ton, which would be an important step to leave the era of oil behind.

See: SGK-PLANET FAQ about Green Hydrogen

Aircraft that will fly with zero emissions

Airbus has revealed three concepts for the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft which could enter service by 2035. These concepts each represent a different approach to achieving zero-emission flight, exploring various technology pathways and aerodynamic configurations in order to support the company’s ambition of leading the way in the decarbonization of the entire aviation industry.

See: Airbus reveals new zero emission concept aircraft (External Link)

The Race to Zero program

On June 5, 2020, World Environment Day, the UN made the “Race to Zero” or Race to Zero official. It is a global campaign to mobilize the leadership and support of banks, companies, cities, regions, and investors. Its objective is focused on encouraging these actors to form a coalition of leaders with their feet in the “real economy”, in order to reach zero net emissions by 2050 or earlier, if possible. This initiative “will be essential to deal with the complexities of global transformation and promote the high ambition of all stakeholders in the course of a better recovery,” in the words of the UN.

See: SGK-PLANET FAQ about Race to Zero

Electromobility

By using clean energy, the electric car is the most effective tool to meet the main objective of the Paris Agreement, which is to limit the increase in global warming to 2ºC, from its pre-industrial level. As more electric cars are incorporated into the planet’s traffic, global warming will gradually mitigate, as will climate change, since GHG emissions are largely due to automobile traffic. In addition, the electric car does not produce environmental or sonic pollution, which will eliminate smoke or smog in large cities and noise in populated places near highways. An additional advantage is that they are cheaper to maintain than internal combustion motor vehicles.

See: SGK-PLANET Magazine all about Electric Cars

Solar energy

Projections indicate that solar energy should become one of the main substitutes for fossil fuels, for a number of reasons, including the continued cheapness of solar panels. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated during COP21, Paris, 2015: “The transition of the energy sector in the coming decades will be critical to achieving climate goals and sustainable development. Joint action by governments and the private sector has helped keep global energy-related emissions unchanged over the past three years. Our analysis shows that we can meet climate goals while gaining access to energy and improving the environment.

See: SGK-PLANET FAQ about Solar Energy

Wind Power

Wind power is the energy obtained from the wind, which has been used by humans since ancient times to move sailboats or operate windmills to grind wheat. In both cases the kinetic energy of the wind has been transformed into mechanical energy. In the case of electricity production, mechanical energy is transformed into electrical energy through the wind process.

See: SGK-PLANET Magazine all about Wind Power

Launch of the “UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration” program.

The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will be launched in the framework of World Environment Day 2021, although its implementation has already begun. Its objective is to prevent, stop and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on all continents and oceans. (See Question #10)