Page 3 - Environmental_Green Technologies

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Introduction to the topic

Climate is a factor that changed along the years and throughout the history. The current warming trends
are of a particular significance as a result of human activity that has increased the carbon-dioxide emissions
since the mid-20th century, which contributed to the greenhouse effects. The consequence is the increase
of temperature, which has devastating effects on nature such as the destruction of massive territories of
barrier reefs and changed the animals’ territories. It also affects humans activity. Nowadays migrations are
not only result of social and economic issues anymore. There is the emergence of a new kind of migrations:
environmental migrants. Climate change is affecting the living and natural patterns, Arctic and Antarctic is
melting and sea level is rising. The strength of storms is increasing and rainfalls are suffering changes and
producing devastating effects.

Among the issues that have been discussed in relation to this are green technologies, which covers all tech-
nologies that are used without harming the environment. In this sense, alternative and renewable energies
have been on the focus of many conversations. The use of fossil fuels and performance of illicit practices
are damaging the nature and planet’s living systems. There is a need to proceed with the transition and
replace fossil fuels with renewable energies like solar, hydropower, geothermal, biomass and wind. Renew-
able energy or alternative energy are the ones that can be constantly renewed by natural means and com-
ing from natural sources or processes, produced from sources that do not deplete, and with much lighter
environmental footprint than fossil fuels. In addition, shift and investment in low carbon or zero emissions
transport solution need to be implemented as starting point (Greenpeace, 2020).

There are also many political and societal movements that have been born as a consequence of the cur-
rent situation. The Green New Deal, a congressional resolution to tackle climate change, aims to establish
a system and build a society in which the energy will be generated 100% thought renewables and clean
energies. The resolution aims to change the electrical system, invest in R&D on energy and change the
transports infrastructure, among others (Friedman, 2019). At European level, the renewable energy direc-
tive (2018/2001/EU) establishes the policy for the promotion and production of renewable energy in the
EU. The directive entered into force in December 2018 as part of the Clean energy for all Europeans pack-
age, aimed to help EU emission reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement and keeping the EU
as the leader in renewables. The directive establishes the EU renewable energy target for 2030 to fulfil at
least 32% of the total energy needs with renewables. Furthermore, European countries establish their own
energy national action plans, complying with the European directive but adapted to their particular avail-
able resources and energy markets. The individual national action plans cover topics such as the choice of
the individual renewable energy targets and measures to ensure that biofuels used meet renewable energy
targets, among others (European Union, 2020).