There’s a real trend in advanced alternative (primarily solar and wind) energy production that’s had legs for over a decade and proven a more profitable and stable model of electricity production than fossil fuel imports. And electrification as a measure of economic growth has been a benchmark for over a century.
The continued growth of emissions overall is still a huge problem. But this shift in development patterns has a second-order impact on public policy. As states recognize they need more energy but don’t need more coal/gas to modernize, they can and will shift their public spending practices accordingly.
Particularly for the BRICS, this is a big deal. You’re talking about billions of future energy consumers who are no longer equating a higher quality of life with a larger carbon footprint.
“Decoupling” is a weak indicator and it’s a reversible phenomenon. Don’t rely on it.
There’s a real trend in advanced alternative (primarily solar and wind) energy production that’s had legs for over a decade and proven a more profitable and stable model of electricity production than fossil fuel imports. And electrification as a measure of economic growth has been a benchmark for over a century.
The continued growth of emissions overall is still a huge problem. But this shift in development patterns has a second-order impact on public policy. As states recognize they need more energy but don’t need more coal/gas to modernize, they can and will shift their public spending practices accordingly.
Particularly for the BRICS, this is a big deal. You’re talking about billions of future energy consumers who are no longer equating a higher quality of life with a larger carbon footprint.
I will believe it when I see the fossil fuels go down: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/global-energy-substitution