Only renewable energy can meet our future needs

The world is facing multiple challenges. Not only are we required to respond to mounting energy needs competitively, we also have to tackle the depletion of easily accessible resources while tackling global warming.

Our planet relies heavily on diminishing energy resources, and our dependence is rapidly increasing as the human population rises at an astonishing rate. Therefore the question facing our world is whether we can weather the switch to sustainable energy.

The main source of energy used today is fossil fuels, coal, gas and oil. Those are non-renewable. While nuclear energy offers dramatic savings in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to petroleum and coal, it doesn't seem safe. Even hydroelectricity has its price.

The use of these energy sources is associated with both environmental problems and concerns for the future with inevitable shortage.

All governments have to realise the importance of sustainable energy. Research on alternative sustainable energy sources is ongoing, and governments that have not invested in renewable energy resources have to act.

Nevertheless, renewable energy alternatives are initially highly expensive, and impoverished countries will not be able to invest in environmentally-friendly options or have enough capital to develop them. Therefore, the developed world has an obligation to fund undeveloped nations so they can take concrete action. Developed nations are obliged to assist developing countries, while themselves adapting to cutting greenhouse emissions.