Scientists have assessed the prospects for the transition to renewable energy sources. According to experts, by the middle of the XXI century, at least 139 countries of the world will be able to make such a transition.
An international team of scientists led by Mark Z. Jacobson from Stanford University has prepared a roadmap of measures that will allow 139 countries of the world to receive all the necessary electricity from renewable sources by mid-century. According to scientists, the use of alternative energy will not only reduce the use of non-renewable resources, but also create tens of millions of jobs.
The authors of the work estimated how many potential sources of "green energy" each country possesses. Energy from water, wind and sunlight was taken into account. Scientists have calculated how many green generators each country will need to switch to renewable sources and how much space they will need. According to experts, most countries will only need 1% of the available land and artificial surfaces (eg roofs of buildings). Also, the costs incurred by industry and business were calculated.
Infographics, Joule
The study looked at countries for which data are available to the International Energy Agency. These countries account for 99% of the carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Scientists have identified which countries will find it easier and more difficult to switch to renewable energy sources. This task will be easiest for countries with an average population density, for example, for some countries of the European Union. The most difficult transition will be for residents of small but densely populated countries surrounded by the sea, such as Singapore.
According to scientists, "green energy" can solve many modern problems. Reducing air emissions will prevent millions of premature deaths from diseases caused by air pollution. As a result, healthcare costs will also decrease. Scientists also predict changes in the labor market. They estimate that the transition to renewable energy will destroy about 28 million jobs but create 52 million new ones.
However, there are also critics of such "road maps". They note that changing the main sources of energy will be expensive.
The article was published in the Joule magazine.
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