The fight against climate change must include greener fossil fuels

The UN’s third Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was published earlier this month with a stark warning that climate change is causing more frequent severe storms, floods, droughts, wildfires, and other extreme weather events.

It said that current plans by governments around the world to address climate change are not enough to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels — a threshold most scientists believe is necessary to avoid even further catastrophic events as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The report calls for quick action to reduce greenhouse gases by 43 percent by 2030 if we are to enjoy a sustainable future.

The IPCC is tasked with assessing the science related to climate change and setting out options that governments should take.

But its latest report also showed that the wealthiest countries are disproportionately responsible for more emissions than developing countries, even though emerging nations are more severely affected by weather events. This means that the poor are paying for the sins of the rich. This is unfair and should be addressed when the IPCC makes recommendations. This is highlighted by the fact that there are about one billion people — mostly in Africa — who suffer from energy poverty and don’t have access to clean energy.

Convincing countries that suffer from energy poverty to move away from cheap and available fossil fuels will not be easy, because they are hungry for any type of fuel that will allow them to enjoy the modern amenities that most of us take for granted, such as electricity at home.

The connection between social justice and climate mitigation is mentioned in the study. Catherine Mitchell, professor of energy policy at Exeter University, and one of the report’s lead authors said: “People are beginning to realize how serious the climate crisis is, and that the ways to meet the challenges of the climate crisis — moving to low-carbon energy, looking after the environment, shifting transport — tend to also improve energy security, justice, social concerns, there are a lot of win-wins and co-benefits.”

Science tells us that we need to remake our energy system and eliminate CO2 emissions. But the transition toward an all-renewable energy system is not a simple task. The world needs technology and strong policy to move in this direction. Throughout history, our energy use has moved toward more concentrated, convenient, and flexible forms of fuel. Understanding the advantages of today’s energy sources and the history of past transitions can help us understand how to shift toward lower-carbon energy sources.

Those pushing to end fossil fuel production now may be missing the point. Fossil fuels have generated most of the world’s energy needs to propel our cars, power our businesses, and keep the lights on at home — with oil, coal, and gas providing about 80 percent of our needs. Moving away from this reliable and relatively cheap form of energy that has provided so much of the world’s energy will not be an easy task.

So, it is only sensible that the scientists and policymakers make efforts to make fossil fuels greener, while at the same time looking for solutions to address climate change. Both will be needed. So, the mention of carbon capture and storage in the IPCC report as a key technology for the decarbonization of fossil fuels is a welcome step in recognizing the need for all-inclusive solutions to move toward a cleaner planet.

Dropping unpopular energy sources, such as nuclear power, from the conversation may also be short-sighted and should be reassessed.

The latest IPCC report sounds the alarm, but there is still time for the world to prevail in the fight against climate change, while at the same time addressing the issue of energy access and poverty in underdeveloped countries.