Powering a safer future
Energy is crucial to tackling the climate challenge. Many of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) that blanket the planet and trap the sun’s heat are generated through energy production – burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and heat.
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 percent of global GHG and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
The science is clear – to avoid the worst impacts, emissions must be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. To achieve this, we must end our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable and reliable energy.
The importance of renewable energy
Renewable energy sources – the sun, wind, water, waste and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no GHG or pollutants.
Fossil fuels still account for more than 80 percent of global energy production, but cleaner energy sources are gaining ground. Almost 30 percent of electricity currently comes from renewable sources.
Five reasons to accelerate the transition to clean energy
1. Renewable energy sources are abundant
Renewable energy sources are available in all countries and are yet to be fully harnessed. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can come from renewable energy by 2050.
Renewables offer a way out of import dependency, allowing countries to diversify their economies and protect them from unpredictable fossil fuel price swings while driving inclusive economic growth, new jobs and poverty alleviation.
2. Renewable energy is cheaper
Renewable energy is the cheapest option in most parts of the world. Prices for renewable energy technologies are dropping rapidly. Falling prices make renewable energy more attractive, particularly to low- and middle-income countries, where most of the additional demand for new electricity will come from.
As costs fall, there is a real opportunity for much of the new power supply over the coming years to be provided by low-carbon sources.
3. Renewable energy is healthier
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 99 percent of people breathe air that exceeds air quality limits and threatens their health, and more than 13 million deaths each year are due to avoidable environmental causes, including air pollution.
In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels caused USD 2.9 trillion in health and economic costs, about USD 8 billion a day.
Switching to clean energy sources can address climate change, air pollution and health.
4. Renewable energy creates jobs
Every US dollar of investment in renewables creates three times more jobs than in the fossil fuel industry. Transitioning toward net-zero emissions would lead to an overall increase in energy sector jobs while about five million jobs in fossil fuel production could be lost by 2030. An estimated 14 million jobs would be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million.
In addition, energy-related industries could require a further 16 million workers. For example, there would be new roles in manufacturing electric vehicles and hyper-efficient appliances. This means that over 30 million jobs could be created in clean energy, efficiency and low-emission technologies by 2030.
5. Renewable energy makes economic sense
About USD 5.9 trillion was spent on subsidizing the fossil fuel industry in 2020. In comparison, about USD 4 trillion a year needs to be invested in renewable energy until 2030, including investments in technology and infrastructure, to allow us to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The upfront costs can be daunting for many countries with limited resources, and many will need financial and technical support to make the transition. But investments in renewable energy will pay off. The reduction of pollution and climate impacts alone could save the world up to USD 4.2 trillion per year by 2030.
Efficient, reliable renewable technologies can also create a system less prone to market shocks and improve resilience and energy security by diversifying power supply options.
SGS solutions
We enable sustainable, efficient energy use and reduced environmental impact through our sustainable energy solutions, including climate change mitigation, energy efficiency and our renewable energy product areas.
We also offer certification and training services to help you manage your GHG emissions. ISO 14064 (GHG quantification and reporting) provides organizations with a way to quantify, monitor, report and verify GHG emissions. ISO 50001 (energy management systems) specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an energy management system. It provides a framework for reducing energy use, thereby reducing energy costs and GHG emissions.
For more information, see Sustainable Energy.
For inquiries, please contact:
Jason Hulbert
Associate Marketing Manager
Knowledge
m: +44 7912 426878
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 96,000 employees operate a network of 2,700 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.
