Earth Day 2021 vs. 2020

 

Commemorating Earth Day: 1970 - 2021

There’s been a sea change between Earth Day 2020 and the events that commemorated Earth Day this week.  The new leadership in the White House is emphasizing sustainability and the expansion of renewable energy in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and get control of the ravages of climate change.  The economy is also rebounding as the proliferation of COVID-19 vaccines continues across the United States and the American Rescue Plan takes hold. 

One of President Biden’s first actions since taking office in January was to rejoin the 2015 Paris Climate Accords.  This agreement by nearly 200 countries called for a worldwide reduction in the emissions of atmospheric pollutants such as carbon and sulfur dioxides.  The primary sources of these man-made emissions are the production of energy and in transportation. 

Some advocates don’t think the Paris Accords go far enough in reducing carbon emissions, while others have concerns about the cost of using cleaner technology.  President Biden and his science team sought to address these concerns at the virtual two-day climate summit he led to celebrate Earth Day.

On April 22, President Biden “…announced the United States will target reducing emissions by 50-52 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.”  That can be accomplished through a partnership between the public and private sector to invest in the expansion of clean energy sources and more energy-efficient technology. 

President Biden’s $2.9 trillion infrastructure plan proposes new investments in clean energy, electric vehicles, and weatherization.  The White House also points out that these investments will yield many new sustainable energy industry jobs.

The pandemic provided an extreme example of what happens when there is a dramatic reduction in fossil fuel use.  Last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic first led to shutdowns around the world and the grounding of most air travel, there was a significant improvement in both air and water quality.  The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated a nearly 6% reduction in global carbon dioxide emissions took place in 2020 as air travel largely stopped, factories and businesses closed, and most drivers remained home and off the roads. 

However, the IEA recently reported that emissions could jump by nearly 5% in 2021 as businesses open again and both air and automobile traffic resumes.  No one is advocating for shutdowns as a means to improve air and water quality.  Rather, it’s through energy-efficient power generation and transportation that similar positive environmental impacts could be seen.  Because renewable energy sources are cleaner than fossil fuels, a group of 13 utility companies recently urged President Biden to implement policies designed to reduce carbon emissions. 

President Biden’s infrastructure plan is crucial to efforts to make energy-efficient upgrades to buildings, prioritize the electric automobile industry, and make renewable energy more widespread.