As lawmakers, climate change experts, and activist organizations convene in Morocco to discuss the progression of climate change and the way forward, leaders from around the world are readying themselves to declare ambitious climate change plans on behalf of the nations they lead. One recent declaration comes from France’s President Hollande, who announced earlier this week that by 2023, the nation will shut down all of its coal-fired power plants.
Already, France is considered to be an incredibly progressive nation. In the past couple of years, France has made it illegal for supermarkets to purposefully waste food, banned plastic cutlery including plates, cups, and hosted the world’s first 24 hours car-free day (in Paris), and mandated that all new roofs must install solar panels or have plants.
President Hollande is one of the keynote speakers at the UN’s annual climate change meeting and stood before the delegates to announce the monumental goal. Much to the approval of the crowd, he first praised Barack Obama then snubbed Donald Trump who believes climate change is a “hoax”, reports The Guardian.
The role played by @BarackObama was crucial in achieving the #ParisAgreement @fhollande #COP22 pic.twitter.com/qgMCCKAVtf
— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016
“The role played by Barack Obama was crucial in achieving the Paris agreement,” said Hollande. He then added that climate change is “irreversible.” Referring to the pact many countries have agreed to, he said: “we need carbon neutrality by 2050.”
Because France invested in nuclear power a few decades ago, it’s already been able to produce 75% of its electricity from nuclear fission. In fact, the nation produces so much energy, it has begun exporting it to nearby nations, raking in approximately $3.2 billions each year.
France – in addition to Germany, Denmark, Sweden – is setting a new precedent for other countries to follow. Not only is it possible to run a nation on 100% renewable energy (Costa Rica has been doing it for much of 2016), it’s becoming much more economical. According to experts, this is because the populace is learning the detrimental effects of utilizing coal for energy and because renewable energy is getting cheaper.
“We have no right to gamble with the fate of future generations” @UN SG Ban Ki-moon pic.twitter.com/FzyQjNlYvn
— COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016
France is a snapshot of what one might expect in years to come. Despite a Trump administration, renewable energy and sustainable technologies are the future and will be invested in by those with enough forethought. What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
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