OPINION
A report published by Statista Research Department shows that fossil fuels account for nearly 81.5 percent of total primary energy consumption worldwide. It highlights that although over the recent years figures have been declining owing to greater use of renewable energy sources, fossil fuels still occupy the highest percentage in energy consumption
The reliance on fossil fuels, fueled by technological advancements, has come at a significant cost to our environment. While these fuels have powered our world for decades and centuries, their burning releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and its devastating consequences.
Do these emissions only affect the environment?
No, this unsustainable practice not only jeopardizes the health of our planet but also threatens the well-being of future generations. They as well contribute to air pollution, a direct result of burning these fuels that poses a significant threat to human health, contributing to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and even premature mortality in pregnant women and mothers.
As feminists, climate change activists, environmentalists, and concerned citizens, we must on this reliable note acknowledge the urgency of this crisis and embrace a paradigm shift towards clean, renewable energy sources. This transition is not merely an environmental imperative, it is a moral obligation to future generations and a vital step towards a more just and sustainable world.
These alternatives can include biogas, which utilizes organic waste to generate energy, harnessing the sun’s power through solar energy, and hydropower, which generates energy from the flow of water among others.
While these processes are cleaner alternatives, they need massive investment in technology, research and willingness of the society that can be tapped into through community mobilisations and sensitization so as to transition from the use of fossil fuels that are both directly and indirectly harmful to better alternatives that are cleaner and renewable energy sources.
Who will take up this mantle of technological advancements and community mobilisations??
Governments must play a leading role in creating policies that support the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies in communities, while simultaneously phasing out fossil fuels.
Local leaders and all environmental activists can foster community engagement and promote the adoption of clean energy solutions at the grassroots level. Individuals, empowered by knowledge and driven by a shared sense of responsibility and belonging, can embrace sustainable practices in their daily lives, from choosing energy-efficient appliances to supporting local initiatives promoting renewable energy.
Everyone deserves a greener, cleaner and safer environment uncorrupted by emissions from fossil fuels.
By Mary Blessing Ahairiirwe,
The writer is a Volunteer at Women for Green Economy Movement Uganda
E-mail: maryblessingahairiirwe@gmail.com
