Silverstein: Consumers and corporations must lead on climate change

Ken Silverstein

Submitted photo

While Donald Trump’s return to the presidency may introduce impediments to solving climate change, consumer demand and corporate commitment have made sustainable energy a staple of the American economy. The push for progress transcends any single administration in Washington.

Indeed, international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement guide action on climate change. Nearly all nations have undertaken a global effort to reduce emissions. Even if one country slows down, others are advancing efforts, creating pressure and opportunities for collaboration. 

Furthermore, the rapid decrease in the cost of renewable energy, battery storage and electric vehicles makes the transition to a green economy more tangible. These technologies are now competitive with or cheaper than fossil fuels in many regions. California and New York are establishing ambitious targets for reducing emissions.

“We cannot accept it’s too hard. We cannot accept it can’t be done,” said Patti Poppe, the chief executive of PG&E Corp., in a speech. “Do you know it took 15 years to permit the Golden Gate Bridge and only five years to build it? It was hard then, too; some guy refused to give up.”

California aims to have 3 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. Today, it has 650,000. Moreover, the state added 9,500 megawatts of clean energy capacity last year and 10,000 megawatts of battery storage to support that development.

Internationally, developers and power companies added 473,000 megawatts of green energy, cheaper than traditional fossil fuel alternatives.

The International Renewable Energy Agency says that to meet international targets, we must triple renewable energy use and reduce carbon dioxide levels by 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035. The clean energy sector in the U.S. supports nearly 3.5 million jobs in renewable energy, grid modernization and clean vehicles.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, 60% of Fortune 500 companies have set climate targets, including increasing their use of renewable energy. About 13% of those have science-based targets that align with the Paris Agreement’s goals. This corporate commitment proves the vitality of investor activism, consumer demand and regulatory requirements. 

“Gravity, history and progress are on our side. It could still be slowed by actions of governments and corporations — delays that will have serious consequences for people and planet alike — but it can’t be stopped,” said Katherine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University, in a blog post.

To be sure, Trump could undercut the current climate trends. He could reverse environmental regulations and withdraw from the Paris Agreement while promoting more fossil fuel development — even though this country is already the world’s biggest oil producer. More conservative courts could also restrict the ability of federal agencies to regulate emissions. 

However, the public demand for sustainable energy and products is only increasing. Companies that fail to recognize this may lose market share, while politicians who ignore it will lose elections. 

The International Renewable Energy Agency reports that green energy costs are rapidly falling: 12% for solar photovoltaics, 3% for onshore wind, 7% for offshore wind, 4% for concentrating solar power and 7% for hydropower. Meanwhile, battery storage project costs have decreased by 89% between 2010 and 2023, making it easier to integrate large amounts of solar and wind capacity by addressing grid infrastructure challenges.

“The economic case for the green energy transition is strong,” said IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera. “We are moving to a new energy system, and no one can stop it. Renewables will dominate it, and hydrogen and biomass will complement it. The most important variable is time. We can’t do later what we can do now.”

The world is witnessing the seriousness of this situation: the California wildfires, the hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina and the flooding in Milan, Italy. It’s not an abstract concept but one that affects lives and livelihoods right now — the same as health care, groceries and housing costs. 

Burying our collective heads in the sand is not an option. Getting in the trenches is the only alternative — a mission that the corporate world and concerned citizens must now lead.  

 Editor’s note: Ken Silverstein has covered energy and the environment for years. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.