Shelby Bariana: Get energized about a low carbon FUTURE.

So I am back tracking here, however I fell in love with the U.S. Center here at COP 20 and tried to attend as many talks as I could that involved the hyper wall. A specific talk I attended on Tuesday involved building a Low Carbon Technology Pathway by using the Clean Energy Ministerial ideas.

The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a global forum; it helps to encourage the transition to a clean energy economy. There are three goals that are imperative to this transition:

1. Improve energy efficiency. The CEM wants to promote rapid deployment of renewable energy, smart grids, and electric vehicles.
2. Enhance the clean energy supply.
3. Expand clean energy access.

This includes energy efficiency, clean energy, integration, and to improve the amount of people converting to clean energy. Women also need to be supported in pursuing careers in clean energy for this transition to be successful. Some major talks throughout the week included women empowerment and development, and the role women play in climate change.  

There are several opportunities that we can commit to and make our planet better by using clean energy.  If we change the way energy is being managed we can help facilities achieve more energy efficiency. Specifically 10% to 40% of energy can be conserved.

We have the potential to increase hydro power for electricity production. This technology is imperative for the transition toward a low-carbon economy. So what else could we do to maintain energy efficiency? What about Solar and Wind technologies? You guessed it, another way to transition toward a low-carbon economy. 

If we provide wind and solar energy to regions across the world it can help to provide working jobs, it can reduce emissions, and it can promote energy security around the globe. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?!

The CEM wants a low-carbon economy and they are working very hard to promote their ideas around the world. There are SO many options for a sustainable future and we must act now to save future generations. I cannot stress enough how concerned I am for the wellbeing of my generation as well as I am concerned for what may happen tomorrow. The truth is with climate change some things are still unknown. That is part of the struggle we are facing every day. Let me say again that WE HAVE OPTIONS.

Two of the main clean energy technologies include smart grids and clean vehicles. If the world potentially switches over to electric vehicles we can increase energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and improve local air quality around the world. Let me tell you about the air quality in Peru really quickly, Lima especially. It is not very clean. Being squished in the back of a cab several times with four people it’s bound for one of us to become car sick and need “fresh air”. Well, as you can imagine opening the window and breathing in the air here will only make you sicker.

To wrap this up one last thing the CEM is working toward. They want to develop a Global Atlas that will cover additional renewable energy resources including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, and marine energy that the whole world can be exposed to. 

Not knowing a lot of information on clean energy before coming to the COP I really enjoyed learning about the Clean Energy Ministerial and would like everyone reading to take a look at their amazing website to learn more.

Cleanenergyministerial.org