Since the Industrial Revolution, economic barriers have fettered the world’s transition to alternative energy sources. While the United Nations (U.N.) has roped various nations into many different treaties and non-binding agreements, a lack of concrete action has rendered efforts useless. In less developed nations, a lack of funding stands as the primary obstacle to clean energy. While developed nations can afford initiatives purely for world improvement, underdeveloped nations possess exigent issues that take precedence over climate affairs; moreover, most governments face substantial losses, as fossil fuels rank far above renewables in terms of economic profitability. Likewise, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member states rely on oil exports for up to 45% of their GDP, making regional reforms taxing on domestic economies. These reasons, coupled with a lack of incentive to spend money altering an already functioning system, have impeded energy modernization attempts worldwide.
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which ranks 180 countries in terms of their governments’ environmental policies, placed the U.S. 28th in the world in their 2016 report. This puts America above countries such as China and India, but below those like Finland and the United Kingdom. However, the U.S. never formally ratified the Kyoto Protocol, an international framework under the U.N. Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent anthropogenic effects on the atmosphere. President Donald Trump, a known climate change skeptic, sparked international dissent when he signed his “Energy Independence” executive order, which declared the “war on coal” over and signaled that he would not let international sustainability stand in the way of an alleged “American energy revitalization.” His actions have not only jeopardized the Paris Climate Agreement, but have also led experts to question the future of the U.N.’s Sustainable Energy for All program. Developing countries need financial aid, and losing the support that former President Barack Obama pledged them will be a deterrent to weaning off fossil fuels.
As for now, the future of alternative energy sources is uncertain. Because developed nations cannot simply force changes upon their less developed counterparts, and because many countries disagree on appropriate energy practices, large-scale modernization is unlikely to occur in the near future. If governments disregard the potential that renewables hold, then the weight falls onto the shoulders of private enterprises. Increased development and research will eventually transmute modern energy technologies into practical alternatives by cultivating a competitive energy market. Technological advancements will also promote diversification of renewable resources, driving down unit prices. To counter fossil fuel empires, consumers must pressure industries, which in turn will initiate change. State-funded venture capitals and subsidized overhauls will expedite the process of introducing multinational renewable energy corporations to developing nations. Small countries and OPEC states view oil as a cheaper alternative, due to the distribution networks and drilling systems already in place. The only way to undermine this is through the creation of low-cost alternative energy platforms. Ultimately, until a sustainable future is reached globally, the UNFCCC has not fulfilled its mandate, and we citizens have failed our planet.
