Clean technology  

Two years ago, Covid 19 invaded the world. Almost a month ago, Russia invaded Ukraine.  While the threat of Covid 19 remains, Russia’s invasion on Ukraine is presenting a different concern.    Yes, similarly, both are indiscriminate. The big difference is, Covid 19 is not one of us (human beings), Putin is. Yet, he is downright cruel. Yes, while both have taken lives indiscriminately, the global interest on this latest carnage is unparalleled. It is understandable though as any lapse in judgement may lead to World War III. 

However, there are some people (no matter how serious the situation is) who have this knack of easing difficult situations. Elon Musk is one them as he challenged Putin to a one-on-one combat. We surely know that this is pure entertainment intended to mock or distract Putin. However, if this should happen, it will be the wealthiest fight of all time. That’s between the world’s wealthiest individual in Musk and the wealthiest politician in Putin. 

Yes, with the deafening uproar the invasion generated, it is so serious to be just set aside. But let us not be myopic. There is something of global concern too that no war can disrupt, no vaccine can prevent and no medical treatment can cure. That’s climate change. 

According to credible scientists, climate change does not only refer to rising temperature. Global warming is just one aspect of it. It talks about extreme weather that is caused largely by carbon dioxide emissions out of the production of fossil fuel and the use of it. 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2019, “global emissions of energy-related carbon pridioxide totaled 33.1 billion metric tons.” That’s how huge and dangerous global CO2 emission is. No. 1 among the top ten emitters (in billion metric ton) is China with 10.06, followed by (2) United States-5.41, (3) India-2.65, (4) Russian Federation-1.71, (5) Japan-1.1, (6) Germany-0.75, (7) Islamic Republic of Iran-0.72, (8) South Korea-0.65, (9) Saudi Arabia-0.62, and 10) Indonesia 0.61.  Clearly, these countries are either fossil fuel producers or highly industrialized (therefore, major users of fossil fuel) or both.   

One may say, we don’t produce much fossil fuel, so, we aren’t guilty of it. The International Energy Agency (which estimates CO2 emissions) said, however, that apart from combustion of fossil fuels, indiscriminate disposals of industrial waste and non-renewable municipal waste are contributors too.  Apparently, therefore, we are contributors too.

Yes, we, the global citizens, are all guilty of it. There are just so many of them to enumerate.  However, in the interest of space, we only have to mention what we use every day, plastic shopping bags. Just in case you missed it in your science class, plastic bags come from fossil fuel. And if in case you further missed it, according to the United Nations Environment Program, we produce about 300 million tons (almost the weight of the entire human population) of plastic wastes annually.  

Clearly, therefore, the solution is to get rid of fossil fuel or, at the very least, minimize it. Some start-ups and venture capitalists attempted to solve this malady more than a decade ago (2006-2011) by pushing the “clean-tech” initiatives (referred to as Clean-Tech 1.0). Sadly though, it never took off and venture capitalists lost billions in investments. Yes, the technology was there but it was still too expensive. 

Last year, however, Clean-Tech 2.0 created a stir. Apart from Elon Musk (who is a prime mover of clean tech by manufacturing electric vehicles), huge and influential investors like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are either joining or bolstering their investment in clean technology. On the other hand, we may have a lot of issues against China, but it is a fact that 8 of the 10 biggest manufacturers of solar equipment (panels, batteries, etc.) are Chinese. This is one of the reasons that clean technology is getting cheaper. 

Today, as fossil fuel producers remain adamant in augmenting production, the quest for clean technology is at fever pitch. Among others, Singapore-based DiviGas is developing a new approach in hydrogen production. Fresno-based Yosemite Clean Energy “produces greener hydrogen and natural gas from farm and forest wood waste.”  

We may say, these are wealthy countries and that should be easy for them. Wait, a Kenya-based BasiGo is “helping the East African country transition to an all-renewable transportation fleet and is expected to deliver one thousand mass transit electric buses over the next five years.” If Kenya can, we can do it.