A cautionary approach in transitioning to ‘green’ energy technologies and practices is required (original) (raw)
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A cautionary approach in transitioning to 'green' energy technologies and practices is required.pdf
A cautionary approach in transitioning to 'green' energy technologies and practices is required Abstract: Renewable energy technologies (wind turbines, solar cells, biofuels, etc.) are often referred to as 'clean' or 'green' energy sources, while jobs linked to the field of environmental protection and energy efficiency are referred to as 'green' jobs. The energy efficiency of clean technologies, which is likely to reduce and/or eliminate reliance on fossil fuels, is acknowledged. However, the potential contribution of green technologies and associated practices to ill health and environmental pollution resulting from consumption of energy and raw materials, generation of waste, and the negative impacts related to some life cycle phases of these technologies are discussed. Similarly, a point is made that the green jobs theme is mistakenly oversold because the employment opportunities generated by transitioning to green technologies are not necessarily safe and healthy jobs. Emphasis is put on identifying the hazards associated with these green designs, assessing the risks to the environment and worker health and safety, and either eliminating the hazards or minimizing the risks as essential elements to the design, construction , operation, and maintenance of green technologies. The perception that it is not always economically possible to consider all risk factors associated with renewable energy technologies at the beginning without hampering their implementation, especially in the poor developing countries, is dismissed. Instead, poor countries are encouraged to start implementing environmentally sound practices while transitioning to green technologies in line with their technological development and overall economic growth.
The Principal Environmental and Health Impacts of Energy
Introduction: Energy plays a fundamental role in modern society, powering our homes, industries, and transportation systems. However, the production, consumption, and extraction of energy sources can have significant environmental and health impacts. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing sustainable energy solutions and mitigating the negative consequences. This document aims to explore the principal environmental and health impacts associated with various energy sources and technologies. Analysing the impacts of fossil fuels, renewable sources, and energy-efficiency technologies is becoming more necessary. Strategies to reduce the negative impacts of energy production and consumption are also discussed. Finally, we provide recommendations for improving energy sustainability. This paper will evaluate the economic, social, and environmental benefits of different energy sources and technologies. The role of policies promoting the use of renewable resources is also discussed. Finally, we compare the different options and their implications.
Green Jobs in the Energy Sector
Energies
This article analyzes Green Jobs (GJs) in the energy sector. GJs are naturally created in the processes related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); this is especially visible in the 7th and 8th SDGs. There is currently a green transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in the energy sector, and this mainly technological change also influences GJ creation. Despite this, there is a research gap related to green self-employment and GJ definitions. The goal of this paper is to explore the scientific literature collected from the Scopus database using a qualitative approach to present areas and keywords related to GJs in the energy sector. The adopted method is a Structured Literature Review (SLR), with the original query Q1. The retrieved data results of the SLR method were analyzed in the form of bibliometric maps of co-occurring keywords generated by the VOSviewer software, together with tables showing clusters of keyword features. As a res...
Green Jobs—A Literature Review
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In the past two decades the topic of “green jobs” has drawn particular attention, resulting in a widely diverse and relatively large number of published papers. Although a determinant for the increase of knowledge, the heterogeneity of these studies may raise the issue of a systematic documentation of the key contributions in this field. In this context, the present research focuses on analyzing the scientific literature published in the last five years on the topic of “green jobs” with the aim to identify definitions and meanings associated with the concept of “green jobs”, the connected terms, areas of research interest and the main theoretical and practical results. The results reveal that although there is no uniformity in the definition of the concept, there is still a convergence towards the initial meaning offered by the UNEP/ILO/IOE/ITUC Report of 2008. Moreover, using scientific software VOSViewer our research shows that the concept of “green jobs” is most linked with the f...
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2013
Renewable energy production may offer advantages to human health by way of less pollution and fewer climate-change associated ill-health effects. Limited data suggests that renewable energy will also offer benefits to workers in the form of reduced occupational injury, illness and deaths. However, studies of worker safety and health in the industry are limited. The Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) Energy Summit held in April 2011 explored issues concerning worker health and safety in the renewable energy industry. The limited information on hazards of working in the renewable energy industry emphasizes the need for further research. Two basic approaches to guiding both prevention and future research should include: (1) applying lessons learned from other fields of occupational safety and health, particularly the extractive energy industry; and (2) utilizing knowledge of occupational hazards of specific materials and processes used in the renewable energy industry.
Unintended Consequences of Green Technologies
Green technologies (e.g. wind turbines, solar cells, and biofuels) and initiatives (e.g. efficiency, recycling, and organics) yield distinct unanticipated consequences that can partially or fully offset intended environmental benefits.
The National Energy Commission's (NEC) mandate is to review the national energy requirements, advise Government and other authorities concerned in the planning and execution of major projects in the energy sector to fully meet medium and long term needs, and to oversee the operation of the 'Maurice Ile Durable' (MID) Fund. This report has been prepared in good faith on the basis of information available at the date of publication. Every effort has been made by the NEC to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data and information contained in this report. However the NEC makes no representation, warranty or guarantee in connection with this report and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on information in this report.
Green energies and the environment
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2008
Globally, buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of the total world annual energy consumption. Most of this energy is for the provision of lighting, heating, cooling, and air conditioning. Increasing awareness of the environmental impact of CO2 and NOx emissions and CFCs triggered a renewed interest in environmentally friendly cooling, and heating technologies. Under the 1997 Montreal Protocol, governments agreed to phase out chemicals used as refrigerants that have the potential to destroy stratospheric ozone. It was therefore considered desirable to reduce energy consumption and decrease the rate of depletion of world energy reserves and pollution of the environment. This article discusses a comprehensive review of energy sources, environment and sustainable development. This includes all the renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency systems, energy conservation scenarios, energy savings and other mitigation measures necessary to reduce climate change.
2006
nergy sources of various kinds heat and power human development, but also put at risk the quality and longer-term viability of the biosphere as a result of unwanted,`second order' effects. These side effects give rise to potential environmental hazards on a local, regional and global scale. Consequently balancing economic and social development with environmental protection is at the heart of the notion of sustainable development as set out in the London Communique Â; the 1997 declaration by 18 chemical engineering societies from around the world aimed at harnessing their skills to improve the quality of life. In this context, the principles and practice of sustainability are examined as they apply to the energy sector. Con¯icts between the moves towards energy market liberalization and the needs of sustainable development are outlined in the light of recent experience in the United Kingdom. The likely options for a sustainable energy strategy are described, as well as some of the challenges that such approaches would pose for the engineering profession.
Clean energy technologies: assessing advantages and risks
Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review, 2023
Our society increasingly depends on power and fuel in daily life. This reliance encourages legislators and regulators to place the ongoing energy supply at a relatively low and fixed pricewhat is often referred to as energy securityas one of their most crucial policy goals. Contemporary research has already established that energy diversification (i.e., adding renewables to non-renewable sources) is remarkably beneficial to this objective. The main reason for this is that the different origin of energy is affected by different uncertainties and thus may remain stable when the conventional courses fail. This article aims to provide arguments for energy sources diversification. It explains why policymakers should encourage the development of specific clean energy technologies. Moreover, it assesses the advantages and risks of such a decision, and explores the involvement of the public sector in renewable technologies.