Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: melaniejs on 04/02/2020 14:05:19
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Gary asks:
Can we transition to renewables without depleting the world's resources in the process?
Given that the world currently relies on oil, metals, concrete, silicon etc and assuming that the world has reached peak oil and various forms of coal and will actually run out in 150 years or less (your views please) why isn’t there a huge interest in alternatives and renewables ? It’s not our problem ! It’s too far out ! No one would invest ! There is no need !
If fossils fuels and methane emissions accelerate global climate change (climate has always changed slowly over epochs) doesn’t the problem solve itself between now and in 150 years ?
When we have exhausted supplies of oil, coal and iron ore how do we make steel and other metals and resources currently demanded. How would we make wind turbines, solar panels, wave turbines, mobile phone, equipment of all sorts without steel, cooking coal and oil?
Can we do both? Mine coal and oil and clean it up until we run out and start transitioning to renewables so that the impact on the planet and on the townships employed is minimised or even improved.
What do you think?