Decarbonization and Energy Efficiency
So what is decarbonization and efficient energy use? why is it important?
The majority of the world’s power today comes from burning fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas. These fossil fuels release carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. As a result, the overall temperature across the planet is increasing. From ocean temperature to average temperatures on land.
When we burn fossil fuel, we are essentially “borrowing” energy that had been stored underground for millions of years, that trapped carbon beneath the surface layers of the earth. As we burn this fuel, we release the carbon back into the atmosphere, bi-products of this exchange such as CO2, Methane, and others increase the density of the atmosphere trapping the heat from the sun and other sources on earth, effectively raising the temperature and upsetting a delicate balance necessary for many of
Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way of reducing energy use and, therefore, greenhouse gas emissions.
The term decarbonization refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, either from a region or from specific activities. Carbon dioxide is one of several heat-trapping greenhouse gases produced by humans.
Decarbonization involves increasing the prominence of low-carbon power generation, and a corresponding reduction in the use of fossil fuels. This involves in particular a use of renewable energy sources like wind power, solar power, and biomass (thermal plants). Decarbonization can also include increased energy efficiency and reduced use of fossil fuels