Recently, Extinction Rebellion held protests to direct attention at the need to take action to tackle climate change. This organization is recognized for the critical role that it is playing in challenging governments to do more to reverse the damage that the climate has suffered. The campaigns by such organizations as Extinction Rebellion indicate that mankind is beginning to recognize that urgent interventions are needed. It is encouraging that households, firms and governments across the globe are already implementing measures to secure the planet. The adoption of renewable energy is among these measures. Today, an increasing number of people are embracing such forms of renewable energy as solar power in a bid to make a contribution to the climate change reversal initiative. If meaningful progress is to be made, the whole of mankind should be united in the adoption of renewable energy.
Benefits and Costs of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy presents a number of critical benefits. Among these benefits are cost savings. Usually, renewable energy sources are more cost effective compared to their conventional alternatives. For example, when they install solar panels, households are able to limit their reliance on electricity generated through hydroelectric processes and the burning of fossil fuels. Another benefit of renewable energy is that it is cleaner and therefore friendlier to humans. For example, solar power spares individuals of the discomfort that results from the use of such other energy sources as fossil fuels. The health benefits of clean air that renewable energy delivers is priced at over $ billion (Long & Steinberger, 2016). As an increasing number of firms and households integrate renewable energy into their operations, it can be expected that the cost savings and health benefits will become even clearer. Low maintenance costs and the fact that they will not be depleted are other benefits of renewable energy.
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For the most part, renewable energy has positive effects. However, it also comes with a number of disadvantages. Among its main drawbacks include the initial high costs that are incurred and the fact that the availability of renewable energy is intermittent (“Advantages and Disadvantages”, n.d) . For example, the production of substantial amounts of wind energy demands high wind speeds while solar power generation requires intense heat from the sun. The intermittency of renewable energy also means that there are some geographical areas that are unsuitable for the generation of certain types of renewable energy.
Analysis
Above, some of the advantages and shortcomings of renewable energy have been explored. It has been noted that renewable energy is generally cheaper and it offers health benefits. For example, solar energy does not come with the greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuels. Additionally, renewable energy is in endless supply and fairly easy to maintain. Despite these advantages, solar energy also suffers some drawbacks. For example, the production of the various forms of renewable energy is intermittent and therefore unreliable. The various disadvantages would prompt one to rethink their desire to adopt this type of energy. However, it should be noted that the benefits of renewable energy far outweigh the disadvantages. More importantly, by embracing renewable energy, individuals will be making meaningful contributions to the conservation of the planet. Renewable energy has conclusively been established as among the most effective approaches to tackling climate change (Long & Steinberger, 2016). Therefore, governments should be aggressive in their investment in the generation of renewable energy. In particular, the United States government should take all necessary steps to make the adoption of renewable energy a priority. It is rather unfortunate that the US recently withdrew from the Paris Climate accord. This accord had committed most of the world’s nations to implement interventions aimed at combating climate change. By phasing out fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy, the US will be assuring the global community of its dedication to securing the future of mankind.
Conclusion
Climate change is threatening the future of mankind. The adverse weather conditions that have been witnessed in the recent past should inspire mankind to be relentless in its efforts to reverse the devastating effects of climate change. Renewable energy is among the resources that mankind can exploit in its quest to secure its future. While it has some shortcomings, renewable energy has effects that are generally positive. To fully experience the benefits of renewable energy firms and households are strongly encouraged to embrace such solutions as solar energy and wind power.
References
Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy. (n.d). Retrieved April 25, 2019 from https://news.energysage.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-renewable-energy/
Long, N., & Steinberger, K. (2016). Renewable energy is key to fighting climate change. NRDC. Retrieved April 25, 2019 from https://www.nrdc.org/experts/noah-long/renewable-energy-key-fighting-climate-change
