All about Energy

“1 liner”: Every person needs to adopt a responsible attitude towards their use of energy – a “change of mindset” is required.

“Today it is widely acknowledged that our energy dependency on fossil fuels, particularly oil and coal, contributes to global warming with catastrophic consequences for our civilization and the ecosystems on the planet. Changing our mindset and the way we choose energy sources and use energy is one part of the answer. Change in international and national policies and other regulatory means to support a transition to sustainable energy supply is another part. A third part of the answer is alternative and sustainable energy sources, technologies and markets, which are growing briskly as the world tries to shed its reliance on fossil fuels while still meeting growing global energy demands”. (Extract from “Transient Caretakers – Making Life on Earth Sustainable” – Mervyn King with Teodorina Lessidrenska)

A summary of major international/national agreements is provided as a backdrop against which we must begin to ‘change our mindsets”. In South Africa we have to depend almost exclusively on ESKOM for our supply of electricity. Some communities and individuals do depend on paraffin and wood, for example, for their supply of energy. This article gives some additional information about renewable energy that needs to be developed as sustainable and reliable sources.