Renewable Energy on the Rise in Developing Countries
Please take the time to watch this 15-minute Ted Talk by Monica Araya, my comments and questions will relate this video:
From the previous Ted Talk, we learn that the speaker shares a deep connection to renewable sources. Being from Costa Rica, Monica advocates for a completely fossil-fuel-free world. But how is this a possibility in a world facing tremendous effects due to climate change? This is not just a possibility, as Monica explains, but a necessity.
Considering the fact that we have utilized 50 percent of the Earth’s biomass already in the last 2,000 years, Monica explains the need for the international community to take action now. Monica points to Costa Rica which was successfully able to utilize renewable sources for 100% of their electricity for nearly 300 days in 2015. How is it so that a developing nation could make such advancements in renewable energies while developed nations fall behind? Monica continues her speech with an analysis of Costa Rica’s oil usage for transportation, which like most countries, contributes to high greenhouse gas emissions.
Questions to Consider:
- How was a developing nation like Costa Rica able to make strides with renewable energies, while developed are unable to?
- What strategies and sectors should nations prioritize first to integrate renewable energies, in particular, where should your nation start?
- How could regional renewable energy programs and implementations benefit the surrounding countries while also allowing for advances in the international community?
1. Unlike developing nations, Costa Rica was able to develop their energy structures using renewable sources. Developed countries already have an established network which can be very hard to transition from. Especially in larger countries such as Russia, our networking system is already in place and is organized around the use of fossil fuels. Countries have become too comfortable with the use of these carbon releasing energy resources, which can have detrimental implications on the environment. As the Russian Federation, we understand the vitality of government stability in the process of converting our energy consumption to be solely based on renewable energy. With many disputes within the governments, it can be difficult to pass these regulations especially when many lawmakers and officials are in denial or enjoy following tradition. But in developing countries who do not have any set systems or traditional energy sources, it is easier to start by using renewable energies since they have not been exposed to the use of fossil fuels or have government bodies who are economically dependent on them. Additionally, it has been found that investing in renewable energy sources is much more cost effective, especially for developing countries who are not already dependent or have operating fossil fuel facilities. As a result of this, in 2015 the total investment in renewable power fuels in developing countries surpassed those of developing countries. Some developing countries invested more than $500 million in renewable energy sources.
ReplyDelete2. In a country, like Russia, that is accustomed to the use of fossil fuels, there are a variety of measures, steps, and regulations that must be reformed in order to adapt these new resources. In order to integrate these newly recognized energies into Russia, we must focus on the social spending and enhance environmental development plans. By focusing our efforts on social spending and the well-being of our citizens the integration of these new energies will come much easier, as we would not only have the public on our side but all aspects of the country as a whole. Additionally by integrating the use of renewable energy into public systems such as transportation used by the people would help take steps in ultimately decreasing the use of fossil fuels and introducing them into developed countries. It is believed that since 54% of the population live in urban areas, cities are responsible for 60 to 70% of the greenhouse gases emitted. Furthermore, as the Russian Federation, we believe that we must not only focus on decreasing our dependency on fossil fuels as we remove it from society, but simultaneously integrate these new renewable energy plants and facilities. One of the main reasons developing countries are out beating developed countries is because now the tables have turned, we are now the ones laying a game of catch up. As the developing world creates their new electrical supply systems, developed countries are focusing on extracting fossil fuels from the environment. As for convincing those in government bodies who are preventing this movement, we believe it is essential that we teach them the harsh implications that these carbon-emitting fossil fuels have on our world and the disasters that could soon become reality.
3. As the Russian Federation, we believe the use of regional renewable energy programs would provide a distinct advantage for many countries. This not only provides a segue for nations to become exposed to the use of renewable energy but will allow for further access to this energy. Large countries, like Russia, would be able to transport leftover unused energy that is generated to countries who need it or vice versa. By doing so this helps advance the international community as they will be able to run public transport systems and help diversify their economy. By integrating energy it also increases the amount of opportunities countries are able to unlock, as they will have the ability to increase the technology in their nations and advance the technology within local schools and medical fields. They will no longer lag behind the constantly advancing world because communications will escalate between neighboring countries and would help create more international unification. Russia understands these benefits and wants to help with this international energy revolution.
ReplyDeleteIan Johnston Environment Correspondent. “Developing world invests more in renewable energy than rich countries for first time, new study says.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 31 May 2016, www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/renewable-energy-investment-developed-world-developing-world-ren21-report-a7058436.html.
Daniel M. Kammen, Deborah A. Sunter. “City-Integrated renewable energy for urban sustainability (Daniel M. Kammen, Deborah A. Sunter).” City-Integrated renewable energy for urban sustainability | Featured Research | Research | Goldman School of Public Policy | University of California, Berkeley, gspp.berkeley.edu/research/featured/city-integrated-renewable-energy-for-urban-sustainability.
1. Since countries, like Costa Rica, are still developing, there are several improvements being made to the country at the same time. With other first world countries, there are a number of things that are already set in stone such as what energy is used and what the main source of fuel is. The problem arises when developing countries are dependent on developed countries, and it is hard for the developed countries to make any change within their own country. In Costa Rica's case, they depend heavily on the United States and they are not planning on making any big changes to their renewable energy system any time soon. There is already a certain way of life in developed countries that any small changes will cause big outbursts by the countries.
ReplyDelete2. As stated in the video, incremental change, though heavily supported, is definitely not making enough substantive change. Araya states how a better alternative to this would be taking more time and creating more transformative change. New Zealand has a similar goal as well. The country is leading the world in becoming fully dependent on renewable resources. New Zealand has been forced to make this step towards an entirely renewable energy run country because of its location being surround completely be water. This is definitely a huge step for developing countries to become more developed and be on the forefront of renewable energy technology.
3. It is has always been the case that if one country does something positively impactful for their country, a number of other countries will follow. These regional programs will form unions between countries and there will be a large driving force of powerful countries that advocate for this cause. These unions will also help neighboring and allied countries. Together, the world will face positive, transformative change towards advancing in the right direction for the usage of renewable energy.
Araya, Monica. “A Small Country with Big Ideas to Get Rid of Fossil Fuels.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, www.ted.com/talksmonica_araya_a_small_country_with_big_ideas_to_ get_rid_of_fossil_fuel s#t-940038.
CHINA:
ReplyDelete1. The reason that Costa Rica, a developing nation, was able to implement far greater renewable energies than other developed countries lies in the fact that they actively chose to make a difference on December 1, 1948 when they decided to abolish their armed forces and instead focusing their available funds towards the creation and expansion of greater social plans. Within this expansion of social funds came about the idea to increase renewable energy. As Monica Araya states, the innovation of Costa Rica was not about luck, but instead about the cognitive decisions that the government of Costa Rica made (Araya). Even though Costa Rica encounters varied problems, its design model is far more innovative and superior in the renewable energy sector than any developed nation. The problem with developed nations in implementing a green revolution then lies in the fact that most countries are making incremental steps– as Araya refers to them– rather than transformative steps. The progress that is being made is not transformative enough to lead to a significant increase in renewable energy, and developed countries should change their ways and overcome any socio-cultural barriers in order to revolutionize their power industries.
2. As the People’s Republic of China, emphasizing renewable energy integration within our power sector is the priority, as it should also be for other nations. Being the leading investor in renewable energy generation, China sees the profound benefits of continual modernization and reformation of developing nations’ energy industry, targeting for the eventual transition of a society run by renewable energy sources than that of fossil fuels. We also recognize that such transition can be accompanied with various political, economic, and social shortcomings, which has led China to work directly from the source (where it is produced) and make changes that would allow renewable energy to become affordable, extensive, and social/culturally accepted as a healthier alternative source. Strategies that the People’s Republic of China include both structural and reliable stability, for the implementation of new and innovative technologies may prove daunting at first, but experimentation and constant trials can provide reliability for the development of new systems.
3. The increase in renewable technologies on a regional or local scale can aid in the progress of developing further renewable technologies on an international scale as well as helping to limit the air and water contaminants throughout a large area. The increase in use of clean mechanisms helps to modernize technologies. The scientific discoveries made in relation to renewable energy are able to be promulgated throughout the international scientific community. In addition, countries that increase their renewable energy capacities can serve as inspiration for the rest of the world, similar to Costa Rica at present (Araya).
Araya, Monica. “A Small Country with Big Ideas to Get Rid of Fossil Fuels.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, www.ted.com/talks/monica_araya_a_small_country_with_big_ideas_to_get_rid_of_fossil_fuels/transcript.
www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/renewable-energy/public-benefits-of-renewable-power#.Wpb-u2inHrc.
1. In the 1940’s when Costa Rica abolished their army, they opened up government fundings to help with healthcare and education. This helped the country to become more stable and eventually led to the funding of sustainable energy sources. The first sustainable energy source to be implemented in Costa Rica was hydropower. Costa Rica’s hardest transition was their transport system which was already a well developed system running on oil. Developed countries have these same problems because most of their technology is already established and use unsustainable energy sources. This makes it hard for developed countries use sustainable energy sources as it would require them to tear down their old system and build a new one based on renewable energy.
ReplyDelete2. The Republic of Chad believes the first step to integrating renewable energies into our own country is to get the adequate funding and built up infrastructure. Without proper infrastructure, the renewable energy plants cannot be utilized and the surrounding communities cannot use the electricity generated.
3. Regional renewable energy programs help the environment, which also provides environmental benefits for surrounding areas as well. If regional renewable energy programs are proven successful then it would promote programs to be implemented in surrounding areas as persuade nations who are hesitant to take part in these programs. Increased regional support would help advance the international change to sustainable energy, by creating stronger bonds between regions through support of sustainable energy.