Over recent decades, the world's atmospheric temperature has been increasing at unprecedented rates. What was once a haven for polar bears is now a sea of melted ice. Climate change is a pressing issue that has gotten worse through anthropogenic methods. However, steps are being taken to prevent reaching an irreversible tipping point.
Goals are set by many countries in order to set the stage for improvement. A set of countries in 1997 agreed upon the terms set by the Kyoto Protocol. This agreement made countries specify a certain emission rate to achieve by 2012. The emissions that were dedicated to be lowered surrounded greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are a major contributor to the negative effects of climate change. These gases can increase the temperature of the earth as well as pollute the air. Setting goals to decrease greenhouse gas emissions was the first step to deal with climate change.
Denmark is among the leading countries in reducing the effects of climate change. Denmark set the goal to reduce emissions 70% by the year 2030. One of the ways they are accomplishing this feat is by increasing renewable energy source use. Renewable energy sources are sources that are able to be replenished within the lifetime of a human. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable, meaning they cannot be replenished within one’s lifetime. For this reason, fossil fuels are unsustainable sources of energy. Denmark addresses this issue by shifting to renewable sources such as wind power. In Denmark, 47% of total electricity consumption comes from wind power. The source of wind power comes from wind turbines, which move a turbine to generate electricity.
Another one of the leading countries in reducing the effects of climate change is Finland. Finland set their goals to decrease emissions by 80% by the year 2050. Finland has set out multiple strategies and plans in order to meet its goals, such as the “Long-term Climate Change Policy Plan.” This plan is written every ten years to establish policy measures for emissions and non-emissions trading sectors for which the measures must be met.
In addition to policies for reducing emissions, Finland has also shifted to a more “green” future. Finland continues to increase its renewable energy consumption, as over 40% of total energy consumption comes from renewable energy sources. As the country continues to search for more sustainable renewable sources of energy, the emission caps set in place are major contributors to the recent success that Finland has had in the fight against climate change.
As the world continues to decline environmentally, countries throughout the world are beginning to take the necessary steps to prevent the drastic effects of climate change. Countries such as Denmark and Germany are switching to renewable forms of energy, while other countries like Finland take a more direct approach, setting emission caps and rules to be met. Although global temperatures continue to increase, the shift in concern over climate change in recent years has brought hope for a better and more sustainable future.
Sources
"Renewable Energy in Finland." Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, Accessed April 19, 2021, https://tem.fi/en/renewable-energy#:~:text=Renewable%20Energy%20in%20Finland&text=In%20Finland%20renewable%20energy%20sources,cent%20of%20energy%20end%2Dconsumption.&text=The%20most%20important%20forms%20of,wind%20power%20and%20ground%20heat.
"Finland's National Climate Change Policy." Ministry of the Environment, "Finland's National Climate Change Policy." Ministry of the Environment, Accessed April 19, 2021, https://ym.fi/en/finland-s-national-climate-change-policy#:~:text=The%20key%20pillar%20of%20Finland's,from%20the%20levels%20in%201990.
Jaganmohan, Madhumitha. "Number of active wind power turbines in Denmark from 2010 to 2020." Statista, 27 Jan. 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/990723/number-of-active-wind-power-turbines-in-denmark/#:~:text=As%20of%202019%2C%20over%2047,coverage%20had%20reached%2040.5%20percent.