In the global recovery from COVID-19 the pathway we choose is an opportunity to innovate and build a fairer, greener and more resilient economy, one that can bring us to a carbon-neutral world by 2030.
The solution to the climate crisis lies in transforming how we generate our power, design our cities, and manage our land. Geothermal energy and other renewables offer a ready solution to create sustainable, decarbonised economies and crucially, inclusive societies.
Geothermal power offers a viable means to accelerate the transition away from harmful fossil fuels. We are at a time when countries and businesses are looking for responsible ways to jumpstart their economies. In Kenya alone, 5,100 MW of geothermal power is planned to be developed by 2030, compared to the 200 MW that is currently produced. But tapping into our natural resources must positively impact local people and the environment.
To mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on December 12th, the United Nations, UK, and France will co-host a virtual Climate Ambition Summit. The summit is positioned as a “sprint to Glasgow” where COP26 will take place and will make new ambitious commitments to bring us closer to a zero-carbon economy by 2050. The stakes are high. This summer Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres stated a clear choice between going backwards or embracing the transition from a grey to a green economy: ´We can invest in fossil fuels whose markets are volatile and whose emissions lead to lethal air pollution. Or, we can invest in renewable energy, which is reliable, clean and economically smart.’
The cost of ambitious climate action is often identified as a barrier to change, yet the human and economic costs of inaction are much higher. Geothermal power can be part of the solution. To build back better, the impact must be both transformative and consistent with improving people’s lives.