On Feb. 13, 2017 I introduced the “Air fare extraordinaire” idea.
The “idea” was to present fare (information) about air that’s “extraordinary,” meaning, that which is out of the ordinary or not your typical fare, in other words.
I thought it was time for an “Air fare extraordinaire” revisit.
So today’s “idea” has to do with a common construct presented as text in articles dealing with climate change and global warming, typically. Below is an example of just such a construct.
“The amount of CO2 emissions removed by shuttering this, that and the other coal-fired power plant, is equivalent to taking X number of cars off the road.”
All well and good. Or is it? It’s not. Why? Because stated in this manner, said construct unfortunately doesn’t convey to the general public (the target audience) all that the general public, in this instance, needs to know. Lacking is further, necessary detail.
What detail? Detail such as over what duration or time period, like daily, quarterly, yearly, etc. Furthermore, what kinds of motor vehicles and with what fuel-economy (gasoline or diesel miles-per-gallon) ratings? Having this information adds context that otherwise wouldn’t be included.
A more precise way of stating such is: “The amount of yearly CO2 emissions removed by shuttering this, that and the other coal-fired power plant, is equivalent to that which is produced by X number of cars having (say) an average 25 miles-per-gallon fuel economy rating.”
Though the length of the so-called substitute “equivalency” construct is a bit longer, it is more precise and does, in fact, add further context.
And, it matters because?
What this boils down to is having important if not essential information reach the eyes of the general public (and others) for the purpose of their becoming better if not, properly, informed.
The “The amount of CO2 emissions removed by shuttering this, that and the other coal-fired power plant, is equivalent to taking X number of cars off the road” construct, written as is, just doesn’t go far enough.
Peak emissions: How close are we?
One source, Climate Analytics, had this to say:
“‘The record-breaking success of renewables in China has pushed the country to the verge of peak emissions. But to pass this peak and bring emissions down at the pace needed for 1.5°C, China would need to beat even its own personal best and deploy wind and solar even faster,’ says lead author Dr Neil Grant of Climate Analytics,” as was brought to bear in Climate Analytics’ Sept. 23, 2024 “Picking up the pace: 1.5°C wind and solar targets for 2030 and 2035 in key countries” press release.
But also written in the same release was this. “New analysis which delves into two game changing technologies in the climate fight – wind and solar – reveals the pace at which both need to scale in key countries to limit warming to 1.5°C. Across 11 countries that account for over 70% of current wind and solar power, the technologies need to grow five-fold by 2030 (three times faster than current yearly rates) and eight-fold by 2035 to meet global climate goals.”
And added “The report by Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute aims to guide governments as they present new climate targets following a COP28 commitment to triple renewables in line with 1.5°C by 2030. Across the 11 countries, wind has a key near-term role, providing more electricity than solar until the mid-2030s in a 1.5ºC aligned transition. By 2050, solar becomes dominant, providing around half of total electricity generation, and wind around a third.”
That’s just the energy sector. That says nothing about said ongoing emissions-reduction work in transportation. Data from one source (Our World In Data) indicates sales of new fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the U.S. in 2023 hit 10 percent. Meanwhile, according to Veloz.org data, approximately 1.25 million electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2023. While tremendous progress around the world has been made where sales of new battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell-electric vehicles is concerned, more work in the area of emissions reductions could be done in transportation and other sectors that helps put the world on a path to meet its climate objectives.
However, when it comes to meeting said climate objectives, the world has some ways to go still.
Notes
In an earlier version, it was stated (in referencing Veloz.org data) that new electric car sales in the U.S. in 2023 was approximately 11.5 million. This is not, however, the case. The text in question was revised and is now correct.
Updated: Oct. 5, 2024 at 12:23 p.m. PDT.
Corresponding, connected home-page-featured image: Wikimedia Commons
— Alan Kandel
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