Germany Sets New World Record As 85% Of Their Total Energy Needs Are Powered By Clean Energy

Late last month, Germany set a new world record by utilizing approximately only 15% of its energy from coal and nuclear power; the rest of this industrial and economic powerhouse was completely powered by clean renewable energy alternatives from wind, biomass, hydropower, and solar energy. Germany’s success story marks a huge step towards achieving the 2 degree Celsius warming cap required, under the Paris Agreement, to prevent the impacts of global warming as a result of climate change.

Germany has invested heavily in clean energy with government programs, such as the Energiewende initiative and by setting ambitious plans, like aiming for at least 80 per cent of all power to come from renewables by 2050. Intermediate targets range from 35 to 40 percent share by 2025 and 55 to 60 percent by 2035. Germany announced in May 2011 that it planned to shut down all their nuclear power plants by 2022, in addition to nearly eliminating fossil fuel power. The political will shown by Germany, despite its climate change vulnerability being among the least urgent, which shows optimism that cannot be said for many developed countries carrying large carbon footprints. The United States for instance, under the Trump Administration, suggests worrisome signs of regressive policy choices such as the creation of coal jobs, pulling out of the Paris Agreement and endorsing of fossil fuel projects such as the North Dakota pipeline. The principle of common but differentiated responsibility, espoused under the Paris Agreement, cannot be successfully implemented if most the major carbon emitters lack Germany’s political will.

With that said, the principle of common, but differentiated responsibility, espoused under the Paris Agreement, cannot be successfully implemented if most of the major carbon emitters lack Germany’s political will. There is, however, a reason to be optimistic as Germany inspires many countries to smash this new world record in record time. Notably, countries, such as Morocco are slowly picking up pace towards the race against climate change, despite their economic needs.

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