21st Century Advancements Contributing to Our Greener Future
As we shift into a greener future to offset the issues of climate change, new technology is paving the way. For over a century, scientists have been warning of the disasters that could befall us. The global warming theory was first presented in 1896 by Arrhenius and proven in 1938 by Callendar.
For almost 70 years nothing has been done and the world’s biggest polluters continue to pump out vast amounts of carbon. The Climate Change Panel’s 2018 report warns that we have 11 years left until the issue becomes irreversible. This has advanced the issue for many nations all over the world. Working with established and innovative tech companies alike, a greener future is becoming possible.
Electric Vehicles
One of the largest producers of CO2 is transportation. 28% of emissions are produced by road vehicles, trains, and airplanes. Road traffic accounts for 24% of this. In response to various reports, many of the world’s governments have begun the process of introducing green transport alternatives.
Countries such as the UK have pledged to have at least 50% electric vehicles on the road by 2030. Other alternatives such as Electric Bikes for Sale, public power scooters to rent, and greener planes are available. United Airlines recently announced a fleet of supersonic planes that use only renewable energy with minimal to no pollution.
Alternative Meat Sources
A major component of our planetary crisis is the depletion of sustainable land for animal feed. Currently, 59% of available land is used for food production: 26% for grazing and 33% to feed those grazing animals. Those animals are used for livestock in food production. Also, livestock contributes 7% to the total of all greenhouse gases.
The past couple of years has seen something of a food revolution. Plant-based foods have been born out of the increasing vegan movement. This has, in turn, been recognized as a solution to the livestock issue. Tasty meats can now be produced using plants and some of the best are indistinguishable from real meat. Another alternative is the introduction of lab-grown meat. From a single cell, hundreds of meat products can be grown and can reduce land usage by up to 99%.
Renewable Energies
Energy production is one of the more concerning aspects of our uncertain future. As a matter of course, energy is a top priority as we move further into the 21st century. In Europe alone, greenhouse gases from energy production account for around 78% of emissions. Energy production accounts for 66% of global greenhouse gases.
While clean energy production has been around for quite some time, there are advances in technology pushing it forward. This makes it more accessible. Advancements in manufacturing have reduced the cost of photovoltaic cells to 20% of their price since 2000. This has led to more efficient products than standard photovoltaic solar panels such as Tesla’s solar roof tiles.
In response to irreversible climate change warnings by various organizations, world governments are now driving change towards greener transportation options. Another major issue facing modern planetary infrastructure is land used for livestock and feed. Plant-based meats are now available alongside lab-grown alternatives that reduce land usage by 99%. Advancements in manufacturing have reduced the cost of solar cells by 80% and EV manufacturer Tesla has developed more efficient solar roofing tiles.