ENVIRONMENT

Watchdog makes bold prediction on ‘beginning of the end’ of current era: ‘On the cusp of a historic turning point’

October 12th, 2023

The latest prediction from the International Energy Agency (IEA) is that demand for three major polluting energy sources — oil, gas, and coal — will peak and begin to decline sooner than anyone expected: before 2030, the Guardian reports.

The IEA is an international watchdog organization tracking the energy policies of countries around the globe, with a goal of transitioning away from polluting options and toward eco-friendly energy like solar, wind, and water power. This is widely considered the most essential step in stopping the Earth’s warming caused by manmade air pollution.

According to the IEA, we’re closer than ever before. The official energy outlook report is set to be released in October, the Guardian explains, but ahead of that release, the IEA has shared its preliminary findings about the expected timeline for the change from oil, gas, and coal to more affordable energy.

Many countries are making policy changes with that goal in mind. The EU will ban all new gas cars starting in 2035. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has created new rules for automakers that will strongly favor electric vehicles, and the Biden administration is investing billions in clean energy.

According to the Guardian, China’s economy is also turning away from heavy industries that cause air pollution.

Surfshark AdBlock

All the while, energy options like solar panels and EVs are expanding.

The IEA claims these changes are making a difference. “The world is on the cusp of a historic turning point,” said IEA head Fatih Birol in the Financial Times in September. “Peaks for the three fossil fuels are a welcome sight, showing that the shift to cleaner and more secure energy systems is speeding up and that efforts to avoid the worst effects of climate change are making headway.”

There was one sour note in the announcement: While these predictions are better than expected, they may not be enough.

As the Guardian explains, to prevent catastrophic damage to the climate, we need to stop the world from getting more than 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above its pre-industrial temperature. We’re already getting dangerously close to that benchmark — and according to the IEA’s projections, the current energy policies worldwide won’t turn off the heat in time.

“That will require significantly stronger and faster policy action by governments,” said Birol.

Curated By

Thomas Byrne
Religion and Ethics Reporter | Investigative Journalist | Editorial Writer/Columnist for Catholic Publications
Thomas writes with a steady hand in an unsteady age. In a climate driven by urgency and reaction, his work steps back to ask the questions that matter, and to follow them wherever they lead. Drawing on a disciplined, reflective approach, he examines political tensions, cultural shifts, and social challenges with an eye toward both principle and consequence. He resists the pull of easy conclusions, instead inviting readers into a deeper consideration of facts, context, and the human realities behind the headlines. His perspective is grounded in a respect for tradition, tempered by a recognition that every era must answer its own questions. Through careful reasoning and a measured tone, Thomas offers not just information, but clarity, encouraging a more thoughtful engagement with the world as it is, rather than as it is too often portrayed.

Suggested Reading

Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy

Even as concern over climate change and energy security fuel a boom in solar technology, many still think of solar as a twentieth-century wonder. Few realize that the first photovoltaic array appeared on a New York City rooftop in 1884, or that brilliant engineers in France were using solar power in...

Dumb Energy: A Critique of Wind and Solar Energy

In "Dumb Energy: A Critique of Wind and Solar Energy," Norman Rogers presents a skeptical analysis of the transition toward renewable energy sources, specifically focusing on why he believes wind and solar are fundamentally incapable of powering a modern industrial economy. The central thesis posits...

Energy and Empire: The Politics of Nuclear and Solar Power in the United States

George A. Gonzalez's Energy and Empire provides a provocative analysis of American energy policy, arguing that the nation’s choice of power sources is driven less by technical efficiency or environmental concern and more by the imperatives of global hegemony. Gonzalez asserts that the United States ...

The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar and Wind Energy

As oil insecurity deepens, the extraction risks of fossil fuels rise, and concerns about climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old economy, fueled by oil, natural gas, and coal is being replaced with one powered by wind, solar, and geo...

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.