Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Signs that much of the world can go completely renewable

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
April 6, 2015
in News, Renewable Energy

In unanimous vote, the city of Vancouver, Canada, passed its Greenest City Action Plan – to become the world’s greenest city by 2020; one of their goals is to use only renewable energy in only 5 years. In light of that and other recent developments, it’s starting to feel like much of the world might actually go renewable in the near future. Let me tell you what I’m talking about.

Vancouver has pledged to go 100% renewable in 5 years.

Vancouver joined other major cities that have made the pledge to go fully renewable, such as San Francisco, Munich, San Diego, San Jose, Sydney, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Frankfurt. Numerous other smaller cities have also made the same pledge. Sure, you could say, but as laudable as that is, it doesn’t really guarantee anything – it’s just a promise and a plan. But things are already starting to happen.

Small cities in the US like Georgetown, Texas and Leelanau Townshiearsp, Michigan already rely almost entirely on renewables – and they’re well on their way for going 100% in the next few y. Bonaire, the tiny island in the Caribbean is close to reaching its goal of 100% by 2015 through wind and energy storage. Countries like Denmark and Iceland get the majority of their energy from renewable energy, and they’re well on the way to taking it all the way.

In France, the Perpignan Méditerranée region already gets 75% of their energy from local renewables, while in Germany, more than 140 towns, cities and regional networks have achieved 100% renewable energy.

Germany is actually an amazing example: they’ve more than doubled their offshore wind capacity, and they already get about a third of their energy from non-hydro renewables. But what’s even more spectacular is that over half of Germany’s renewable energy is owned by individuals and farms, instead of companies. That’s a completely unique approach, and one from which we could learn a lot – no other country has built more eco-city projects than Germany.

Wildpoldsried, a small village in Germany produces 3 times more energy than it needs using renewable sources.
Wildpoldsried, a small village in Germany produces 3 times more energy than it needs using renewable sources.

It seems like small cities have a much easier time switching to renewables, which makes a lot of sense – they use less energy, they have less complicated infrastructure and usually don’t have a developed industry. But big cities are doing it too – it just takes more time.

San Jose, the third largest city in California already gets almost half of its electricity from renewable sources – they’ve pledged to go to 100% by 2022. Munich, Germany’s second largest city has done the same (by 2025), as has Sydney (by 2030). Brussels, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Georgetown, the country of Costa Rica, San Diego, San Francisco – all of them and many others have viable plans to go fully renewable in less than 20 years.

The people of Vancouver seem to have made their decision. Currently, 32% of Vancouver’s energy is met by renewables, including electricity, heating and cooling – and emissions are down 6% from 1990 levels since 2011.

“Cities around the world must show continued leadership to meet the urgent challenge of climate change, and the most impactful change we can make is a shift toward 100% of our energy being derived from renewable sources,” says Mayor Gregor Robertson.

Hey, and it’s not all about being eco-friendly, it’s also about the money. In some places of the world, renewables are already cheaper than oil, gas and coal – and this will soon start to happen more and more.

“The future of Vancouver’s economy and livability will depend on our ability to confront and adapt to climate change, and moving toward renewable energy is another way that Vancouver is working to become the greenest city in the world,” he says. “Cities that own renewables will own the future,” Councillor Andrea Reimer told Vancouver Observer.

We’re at a turning point in human history, and some places in the world are certainly moving in the right direction. Others are still lagging behind, not having the resources or the will to go all the way. How is your city or area doing? Share it with us in the comment section!

[Read more about 100% renewable projects here]

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Solar Has The Most Potential Of Any Renewable Energy Source
  2. Mind-reading device enables completely locked-in paralyzed patients to communicate with the outside world
  3. The world’s smallest pipes could one day flow useful molecules into our cells — completely leak-free
  4. Scotland just powered itself completely from wind power the entire day
  5. Energy experts call for a 100% renewable world by 2035
Tags: renewable energysustainable development

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW