Happy 2050

Change will happen before 2100

Whichever way we look at this conundrum – whether you consider the unavoidable depletion of fossil fuels’ resources or analyze the dire consequences of carbon emissions on the climate – the logical & inescapable conclusion is that the current global trends of energy consumption are simply unsustainable for another century. Change will happen before 2100 and it is better to manage the transition rather than let it happen to us.

So where do we go from there?

The solutions we typically hear of belong to either one of these categories:

-   Use less energy

-   Use other forms of energy

-   “Twist” existing solutions and make them cleaner

All of the above can and should be taken into account in an overall action plan to reduce greenhouse gases’ emissions and the dependence to fossil fuels. But there are pitfalls to avoid before jumping right into action, as best of intentions can still very much contribute to the problem, when rebound effect come into play.

Do the math first

Knowing that a solution has the potential to provide environmental benefits is not always enough: hard figures need to prove which usage scenario provides the sought after “green RoI”.

That is why a thorough GHG footprint assessment must be the first step for a company – or an individual for that matter – looking at reducing its environmental impact. The figures yielded from the assessment will be the cornerstone of a sound environmental strategy: it identifies the low-hanging reduction opportunities and gives the necessary perspective to select which solutions make most sense to a specific situation.