2023 has officially been declared the hottest year on record, with deadly heat waves, catastrophic weather events, floods, and devastating wildfires plaguing our planet. As we dangerously approach the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold, experts warn that humanity and the planet will face considerable challenges in adapting.
Looking ahead to 2024, Vice President Al Gore believes there is still hope to seize control of our destiny. The good news, according to Gore, is that if we halt our contribution to greenhouse gas pollutants, achieve true net-zero emissions, and stop adding to the heat-trapping capacity in the atmosphere, we can effectively halt the rise in temperatures. Furthermore, half of the human-caused greenhouse pollution could dissipate within the next 25 to 30 years if we maintain true net-zero emissions.
Gore highlights the positive strides we have made in renewable energy. Solar and wind electricity has become the cheapest new source of energy in history, with electric vehicles accounting for 20% of global sales this year. The proliferation of gigafactories, which have increased from one to 200, with another 400 in the works, further demonstrates the shift towards sustainable solutions.
The former Vice President stresses the importance of overcoming the influence of the fossil fuel industry and big petro states' political power, which impedes progress. He calls for a reform of the U.N. process, currently based on consensus, to ensure decisions are not influenced by conflicts of interest.
Despite the obstacles, Gore remains optimistic, highlighting the significant progress that has already been made. In 2023, 80% of all new electricity generation installed worldwide came from solar and wind sources. In India, that figure reached an impressive 93%. Renewable energy has become more cost-effective, creating three times as many new jobs per dollar invested compared to fossil fuels.
Gore emphasizes that we have the solutions at our disposal, with proven deployment models to cut emissions in half by the end of this decade. The International Energy Agency reassures us that the rest can be achieved before mid-century, provided we muster the necessary political will.
Encouragingly, worldwide, young people are mobilizing to push for change, highlighting the importance of political will as a renewable resource in itself.
With a growing consensus on the need to transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and efficiency measures, there is hope that we can avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
