Nearly 70 per cent of the countries in the world could run on renewable energy by 2050

Major economies of the world like USA, UK, China and many other could be powered 100 per cent by solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal energy by 2050, according to a roadmap developed by scientists.

This new study is a follow-up to hotly debated research appearing in 2015 suggesting that the United States could switch to 100 per cent clean, renewable energy by 2050. It now covers nearly 70 per cent of the countries in the world.

The scientists analysed 139 countries for which data was publicly available from the International Energy Agency. These 139 collectively emit more than 99 per cent of the global warming gas carbon dioxide worldwide.

They analysed what raw renewable energy resources were available to each country, and investigated what each needed to electrify their transportation, heating, cooling, industrial, agricultural, forestry and fishing sectors.

The researchers calculate that these 139 countries could be powered 80 per cent by clean, renewable energy by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.

The scientists found that countries with the highest amount of land per person, such as the United States, China, and the members of the European Union, generally had an easier time adopting 100 per cent renewable energy because of the greater ease they had finding sites for solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal power and the greater abundance of such resources in those countries.

Moving towards a better future

Such a future could also mean a need for 42.5 per cent less energy globally, because the efficiency of renewable sources, the scientists and engineers claim
In addition, this shift could lead to a net increase of roughly 24.3 million long-term full-time jobs
An annual decrease of up to 7 million deaths from air pollution annually
Savings of more than USD 50 trillion in health and climate costs per year
We will also be able to avoid 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming

Source: indiatoday.intoday.in