According to a GreenPeace report, it is possible to make the full transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy by 2050. The author Sven Teske said:
"The solar and wind industries have come of age, and are cost-competitive with coal. It’s the responsibility of the fossil fuel industry to prepare for these changes in the labour market and make provisions. Governments need to manage the dismantling of the fossil fuel industry which is moving rapidly into irrelevance. Every dollar invested in new fossil fuel projects is high risk capital which might end up as stranded investment."
Greenpeace has been the most accurate in terms of clean energy transition projections, but such ambitious roadmap would require governments across the globe to put pressure on multi-national Oil & Gas corporations to stop funding new mega-projects and to consider a change of direction. What makes the transition harder at the time being is Trump lobbying for the industry and even picking Exxon Mobil's ex-CEO Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state. Not only that, but Trump is willing to tap into the US Shale Gas reserve which can only be extracted via an environmentally destructive process called Hydraulic fracture or fracking, it also poses numerous hazards to populations living near fracking sites.
Another hurdle in the face of fully transitioning to renewable energy would be the energy-intensive and aerospace industries. Energy-intensive industries such as the steel and aluminium industries require vast amounts of energy 24/7, which could be hard to provide via clean sources and as of today, there is no clean alternative to jet fuel. However powering homes, offices and malls, cars and light industries using 100% clean energy is feasible, and countries such as Brazil, Sweden and even India and China are investing in solar and wind farms. Greenpeace International executive director, Kumi Naidoo said:
"We must not let lobbying by vested interests in the fossil fuel industry stand in the way of a switch to renewable energy, the most effective and fairest way to deliver a clean and safe energy future. I would urge all those who say ‘it can’t be done’ to read this report and recognize that it can be done, it must be done, and it will be for the benefit of everyone if it is done."
In conclusion, there are no technical or economical barriers to powering our homes, workplaces and vehicles via 100% clean energy except corporate lobbying. What will the Oil & Gas giants do? Will they embrace the change and the needs for our planet, or will they oppose it?
