The economies of the future will be composed various renewable energies. A transition in the near future from our old technologies of burning coal, gas, and oil is key to having a productive and sustainable economy. Whether it's your car's hydrogen fuel-cell engine or the photovoltaic cells of solar panels basking in the sun, alternative technologies will be everywhere. The emergence of a renewable energy economy requires three major components, education, legislation, and advocacy. Educating the citizens of the future on the issues of our warming climate and the earth's dwindling resources is the first step in a renewable energy economy. Throughout history, it is seen that education is the root of innovation and ideas. Therefore the economies of the future depend on well rounded educations. Secondly, legislation by our government leaders will set the standards for the development of renewable technologies that will fuel our economy. With government ordinances and an educated society, one component remains, advocacy. If we are able to advocate these new ideas and technologies to other nations, then a global economy based on renewable energy is imminent. Strategic international relations, will allow for technical and economical progress towards a renewable energy economy.
Scientific evidence showing our greenhouse gases output, resource consumption, and warming climate, only assure the necessity of a technological transition. For example glaciologists studying carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere have found that at no point in the last 650,000 years before the preindustrial era has carbon dioxide concentration exceed 300 parts per million, which is the current level. Climatologists have reported that 35,000 people in Europe were killed due to a summer heat wave in 2003. For me not only do scientific reports justify a transition, but personal accounts do. I live in Arizona, which is a heavily mined state for copper. This past summer I was driving through Globe with my dad, and he looked over to me and said, "This town used to be booming with business and growth. Chad, look out the window and tell me what you see?" For the first time in my life I truly understand what we are doing to our earth. The defaced mountains and shanties of this ghost town that used to be in the center of an economic powerhouse now remain motionless. With this realization came the knowledge that an economy cannot be based on a non-renewable resource. Therefore I have learned from the situation at Globe and understand the importance for the world economies to transition, so their cities don't end up like ghost towns.
Many of the major economies of the world have already begun a transition to a renewable energy infrastructure. With the U.S. investing $66.6 billion and China $46.8 billion this year, the transition is unfolding in front of us. By next year of 2010, China and the U.S. are expected to double the amount invested in sustainable technology. Not only are these investments leading the future, but advocacy and education have caught on. With high schools now offering environmental science and ecology classes to universities such as ASU, offering degrees in Sustainability, education is developing to train the people of tomorrow to run a renewable energy economy. As well, advocacy has seen rapid growth in the past ten years. From major organizations such as the Sierra Club to my high school's ecology club, more and more people have been participating. The more the public is aware of current events including environmental issues, a greater exchange of ideas occurs. This is why I have pledged myself to an education that will aide not only the transition, but the earth.
In pursuing a higher education in Sustainability at Arizona State University, I hope to innovate and promote environmentally sound technologies for future generations. Environmentalism and nature has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little boy playing in the woods at my grandma's house. Years later and advances in science have proven that the issues of climate change are becoming more apparent, my passion to preserve our home, our earth has only grown. If I could have one thing in this world, it would be to see a kid be able to play in the woods, just as I did when I was a boy.
Chad Sharrard
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