Uruguay is showing the world that transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is not only possible, but rather easy and affordable. Through a diverse range of energy sources such as wind turbines, solar power, hydropower and biomass, the South American country now supplies 94.5% of its energy needs through renewables. What’s most remarkable is Uruguay has done this all in less than 10 years without the need for government subsidies or higher consumer costs. At the climate talks in Paris, Uruguay’s director of Energy Ramón Méndez praised the transition for boosting the country’s economy, claiming the construction and maintenance costs of building renewable energy sources are low, making it a secure investment. Uruguay has set the precedent for switching to renewables, now its time for the rest of the world to follow in their low-carbon footsteps.
When it comes to energy, more countries need to be like Uruguay
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