# Climate Change Energy Technology for a Sustainable Future

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/04/climate-change-energy-technology-for-a-sustainable-future/
- Published: 2014-04-02T00:37:24-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## The Climate Crisis Requires Change of Energy Technology on a Global Scale

Climate change energy technology does not arrive with an explosion. Instead, it 
builds demand when there are hotter temperatures, stronger extremes, rising seas,
damaged ecosystems, and growing pressure on communities and economies. Yet the scale
of the threat can be just as global.

![The need for climate change energy technology. Two worlds ](https://i0.wp.com/
greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/8AFAD9A3-BBEC-4FA1-9452-1CD74A8D8741.
png?resize=400%2C267&quality=50&ssl=1)

That was the warning more than a decade ago.

In February 2014, then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry placed climate change 
alongside terrorism, epidemics, poverty, and weapons of mass destruction when [discussing major threats facing](https://greenlivingguy.com/2009/05/face-off-lively-panel-discusses-clean-car-politics/)
the world.

At the time, that comparison sounded dramatic. Today, however, the science makes
the urgency increasingly difficult to dismiss.

The [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change](https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6syr/headline.html)⁠
now concludes that human activities, principally greenhouse gas emissions, have 
unequivocally caused global warming. Moreover, human-caused [climate change is already affecting](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/12/climate-change-affects-health/)
weather and climate extremes across every region of the world.

Therefore, climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue. It is an energy
issue. It is an economic issue. Furthermore, it affects infrastructure, food, water,
public safety, national security, and the stability of communities worldwide.

### Kerry Saw the Climate Threat Early for Change to Energy Technology Advancement

When Kerry delivered his warning in Jakarta in 2014, he also emphasized something
equally important: humanity already had technologies capable of confronting the 
problem.

That point matters even more today.

[Solar power has expanded](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/03/sun-light-power-solar-thermal-affordable-housing/)
dramatically. Wind generation has grown. Battery [technology has improved](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/09/green-industry-technology-improving-our-world/).
[Electric vehicles have moved](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/02/5-tips-you-need-to-know-about-moving-with-your-own-electric-car/)
into the mainstream. Meanwhile, energy efficiency, storage, heat pumps, smarter 
electrical grids, and other clean [technologies continue to advance](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/07/technological-advances-to-increase-sustainable-food-production/).

In other words, we are not waiting for someone to invent every solution.

Many of the tools already exist.

## Clean Energy Has Become an Economic Force

Perhaps the biggest change since 2014 involves economics.

The [International Energy Agency](https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-technology-perspectives-2026/deployment-of-clean-energy-technologies-materials-and-fuels)⁠
reports that many clean-energy technologies are increasingly cost-competitive. In
fact, about 80% of global [solar and wind](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/02/renewable-energy-sources-5-emerging-watch-out-for/)
generation now operates at lower levelized costs than coal or natural gas.

Meanwhile, battery prices have fallen sharply over the past decade. Consequently,
[energy storage and electric vehicles have become](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/01/costa-rica-to-become-the-worlds-first-zero-carbon-country-reports-climateaction/)
increasingly practical at a much larger scale.

That [changes the climate](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/10/more-renewable-energy-needed-to-avoid-catastrophic-climate-change/)
conversation.

We no longer have to frame climate action simply as sacrifice. Instead, clean [energy can mean technological innovation](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/05/school-energy-systems-sustainable-power-solutions/),
new industries, domestic manufacturing, cleaner transportation, lower operating 
costs, and greater energy independence.

### American Leadership Still Matters

However, technology alone will not [solve climate change](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/wales-will-help-solve-deforestation-plus-climate-change/).

Leadership matters.

The [United States](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/03/energy-efficiency-policies-could-save-the-u-s-economy-almost-1-trillion/)
remains one of the world’s largest economies and energy markets. Therefore, decisions
made here can influence investment, manufacturing, transportation, technology development,
and [energy policy far beyond America’s](https://greenlivingguy.com/2013/10/new-report-americas-energy-productivity-and-security-has-never-been-better/)
borders.

When the United [States moves aggressively toward cleaner energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/04/exploring-state-energy-efficiency-the-aceee-scorecard/),
it sends a market signal. Moreover, it encourages [companies to invest](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/05/ev-company-investment-think-secures-40-million/),
engineers to innovate, and other governments to move faster.

That was true when Kerry spoke in 2014. It remains true today.

### Treat the Threat With the Urgency It Deserves

[Calling climate change](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/04/sea-turtles-a-call-to-save-them-now/)
a threat comparable to a weapon of mass destruction was never about suggesting the
two problems are identical.

Instead, the comparison was about scale.

A threat capable of affecting countries, economies, infrastructure, food supplies,
ecosystems, and future generations deserves serious attention. More importantly,
it deserves action proportional to the risk.

The encouraging part is that we have more solutions today than we did in 2014.

We have climate change energy technology; better batteries, [cheaper renewable power](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/01/renewable-power-costs-plummet-many-sources-now-cheaper-than-fossil-fuels-worldwide/)
and finally have millions of electric vehicles on the road. Furthermore, businesses
and governments have far more experience deploying clean-energy technologies.

So, the question is no longer whether we have the tools.

The question is whether we will [deploy them fast](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/03/blink-charging-awarded-grant-funds-to-deploy-dc-fast-chargers-by-the-massachusetts-ev-department-of-environmental-protection-under-the-massachusetts-electric-vehicle-incentive-program/)
enough.

[Climate change energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/02/revolutionizing-solar-energy-financing-with-the-financial-mosaic/)
technology demands the same qualities we expect when confronting any major global
threat: preparation, investment, cooperation, innovation, and leadership.

The [climate change energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/01/leading-global-investors-gather-at-un-on-urgency-for-boosting-clean-energy-to-curb-climate-change/)
technology is here.

Now we need the urgency to match it.

## Sources

[Read the IPCC Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report](https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6syr/headline.html)⁠

[Explore the International Energy Agency’s Energy Technology Perspectives 2026](https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-technology-perspectives-2026)⁠

[Read the original Green Living Guy article from April 2014](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/04/climate-change-needs-to-be-tackled-like-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/)⁠

Secretary Kerry recently [considered climate change](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/03/3-reasons-why-you-should-consider-buying-solar-panels/)
as one of the most urgent issues facing the world.

In a February 16 speech in Jakarta; Kerry got it right on the science, the urgency,
and the opportunity to be found in [clean energy solutions](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/06/powerbridgeny-driving-clean-energy-solutions-in-new-york/).
He ranked climate change right up there with “terrorism, epidemics, poverty, and
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

## Technology to Tackle Climate Change

I too believe Secretary Kerry got it right when he stated that we have the technological
ability to [tackle climate change](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/05/hip-hop-caucus-and-cnbc-join-forces-to-tackle-climate-change/).
This also means that market forces have helped align prices to be more competitive
for [green energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/westinghouse-high-power-led-for-energy-efficiency/)
vs coal, oil or Nat gas.

Bottom line here is that American leadership (and action) is essential to the global
[solution and sends the strongest message](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/11/election-day-aiming-message-heard-about-sustainable-efficient-energy-solutions-usa-style-plus-keep-green-jobs-coming/)
to the world.

_The USA is [serious about climate change](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/04/target-stores-take-climate-change-seriously-so-they-go-local/)._

Source: NRDC Blog

Read more at: [http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/sclefkowitz/secretary_kerry_is_right_that.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20150906171416/http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/sclefkowitz/secretary_kerry_is_right_that.html)

 

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
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