Accelerating the Energy Transition for Future Generations
May 12, 2024
Tim de Jong's article in VN starts with a stark observation: KLM, a major company, is making efforts to reduce its ecological footprint. However, de Jong points out that many companies, as climate denial becomes less viable, are resorting to new strategies and tactics to delay the energy transition. They are intentionally sowing confusion to hinder progress.
These strategies often involve promoting seemingly beneficial solutions that, in reality, do not significantly reduce environmental impact. These distractions are designed to divert attention from genuine solutions. It is not enough to take small steps towards electrification and hope that the use of fossil fuels will gradually decrease. We need more than that.
According to Professor Heleen de Coninck, System Transition and Climate Change, six essential elements must be in place for the energy transition to truly occur: Education, technology, behavior, capacity, finance, and government policy. She may be right.
Recent reports indicate a waning interest in electric cars in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Even electric car manufacturers in China and Tesla are adjusting to this situation. Additionally, reports suggest that Shell and its affiliated companies are engaging in "greenwashing" tactics while planning to continue drilling for fossil fuels for decades to come (Shell set to drill for new fossil fuels for decades to come, 2024).
Reflecting on the disaster in Curaçao caused by heavy rains, I am deeply concerned about future generations. We must accelerate the energy transition now.
Miguel Goede
Greenwashing is certainly a major obstacle to tackling climate change.
This misleads consumers, investors and the public, hampering the trust, ambition and action needed to drive global change and secure a sustainable planet.
In my opinion, it becomes necessary to establish regulations to stop unsubstantiated environmental claims. Or what I think is more effective is spreading information that identifies and spotlights entities that give the false impression that they are more environmentally friendly than they really are.