People are more animated than ever before for green energy and calling on their governments to aim bigger. And it seems like they’re listening. With increasing gas prices from the war in Ukraine and scientists’ warnings about climate change, governments realize the need for a speedier change to renewable energy.
Germany has taken the lead and accelerated its own plans to go completely green.
Resilience through renewals
Germany’s revised schedule comes amid a turbulent time that shows the importance of sustainable energy independence through renewable sources. The war in Ukraine shows that it is essential to phase out fossil fuels as soon as possible, as the current shortage has put many countries’ energy at risk. The changing climate is also of critical importance.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has advised that countries reduce their emissions by 43 percent by 2030 to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Germany has heeded the call to action and unveiled a new accelerated plan to get to 80 percent renewable energy by 2030 and to be completely renewable, 100 percent, by 2035. This will mean doubling its available renewable sources as Germany currently gets only 40 percent of its energy from renewables.
Specific goals, for the sake of public interest
Germany has also unveiled specific goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. They aim to increase land-based wind power by 10 gigawatts a year, to reach 115 gigawatts by 2030. The plan is to increase solar by 22 gigawatts a year, to reach 215 gigawatts by 2030, and reach 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, 40 by 2035, and at least 70 by 2045.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that this plan had “overriding public interest,” and this should help facilitate passing changes through their bureaucracy. “You can see at what speed we are becoming independent of Russian energy.”
This is an inspiring push from a leading industrial nation to speed things up, and hopefully, other countries will soon follow suit.
