By 2050 the world could run entirely on renewable energy

    Prepared by – Suzanne Abou Said Daou Before world leaders head to Paris joining COP21, to reach a binding and universal agreement on climate, and to take the critical decisions needed if we are to keep average temperature rises to no more than 1.5 or 2 degrees C; a new study showed that by 2050, 100% renewable energy is not a fantasy for someday, but a reality today and the world could run 100 percent on renewable energy. The study which was published in the Scientific American, on November 19, 2015, by the American academics Mark Jacobson and Mark Delucchi, and will be presented at COP21. The scientists have produced a detailed study outlining how as many as 139 countries could be energy sufficient by relying 100% on renewable energies. The details show how each country can generate all the energy needed for homes, business, industry, transport, agriculture and everything else from wind, solar and water power technologies by 2050. The report produces outline figures for each country. According to the study, the sources of energy for Lebanon would be solar plant (60.8%), commercial and governmental rooftop solar (8.6%) residential solar panels (4.4%) onshore wind (10%) offshore wind (8%), hydroelectric (2.7%). This shift will provide 40 years jobs including 12,090 construction jobs as well as 15,144. The study includes also the cost of fuels that Lebanon will save which is 42.1%, and the avoided health costs per year to be 6.0 billion dollars and that is 8 percent of GDB and the avoided death related to pollution is 991 persons per year.

Last week, the IEA’s energy outlook concluded for the first time that renewable energies are already set to outpace coal as the world’s leading source of electricity. “The main barriers to getting to 100 percent clean energy are social and political, not technical or economic,” Jacobson told members of Congress and ambassadors from countries participating in the negotiations during a forum Thursday in Washington, DC. “The past few years have seen dramatic increases in the growth of renewable energy,” Jacobson said. “Countries can ramp that up even faster and enjoy a host of economic and health benefits by doing so.” According to the website go 100 percent.org, so far, 8 Countries, 55 Cities, 61 Regions/States, 9 Utilities, 21 Non-Profit/Educational/Public Institutions, totaling more than 54.9 million people (and counting…) who have shifted or are committed to shifting within the next few decades to 100% renewable energy in at least one sector (e.g. electricity, transportation, heating/cooling); this is achievable starting now, let’s in Lebanon join the green revolution. Sources: Co-exist. Eco watch, go 100 percent, etc… Photo source: http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/markjacobson750.jpg   http://www.energydigital.com/public/uploads/large/large_Sustainable_city.jpg   Interactive map: Lebanon: https://100.org/wp-addons/maps/ The world: https://100.org/wp-addons/maps/