Many countries use fossil fuels such as coal or oil as the main sources of energy. However, in some countries, the use of alternative sources is encouraged. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

The development of new renewable energy sources has splitted societies into those who wish to adhere to traditional energy resources and those who are calling for new renewables to meet the existing demand for energy. In my opinion, transition to clean energy production can help to stall advancing global warming, and fight economic inequality in backward countries. The central argument for deploying alternative energy sources is it is their ability to solve environmental problems, mainly caused by the production of energy from fossil fuels. For instance, there is extensive research which has proven that coal and oil when burned do produce a large amount of carbon dioxide, which is released into air. This process, in fact, has triggered global warming. On the contrary, harnessing alternative energy sources will allow many countries to have access to full electrification without exploiting the remnants of scarce natural resources. Another strong argument for switching to eco-friendly resources is some countries have a perpetual shortage of fossil fuels. Thus, such independence would encouraged those countries to minimize their dependency on non-renewables. Transition to alternative energy resources would eliminate the fossil fuel dependence among societies. In other words, not only do they exist in nature in abundance, but they can also be obtained from eco-friendly sources including the sun, wind and water, which can replenish themselves with no threat being exposed to the Earth, unlike with non-renewables. Finally, there is no denial that the poor have been suffering from an acute energy shortage in different parts of the world. This perpetual paucity is, in fact, depriving them of the basic fundamental right to clean water. Consequently, if people in those countries were given access to electricity, produced from natural resources, they could find practical solutions to many economic issues including poverty. This could improve the health care system, would provide a better livelihood, and create much needed jobs. In conclusion, it is fair to assert that innovations in energy production will prioritize a safe and sustainable existence of humankind without compromising both the climate health and humans’ own wellbeing.