Energy resource management
Resource management is the practice of improving the resource efficiency of energy, water, and materials – to do more with less. As we saw in Chapter 1, Our Most Significant Challenge Ahead, the energy sector accounts for 24 gigatons of CO2 emissions, which is 41% of the total number of emissions per year. This is primarily because energy sources draw from fossil fuels such as coal and oil instead of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, water turbines, and geothermal. By 2035, global energy consumption is projected to double. Making the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is paramount to staying within the 1.5°C targets, while, at the same time, meeting the surging demand in the next 10–15 years. There is a close link between energy and water. 90% of global power generation is water-intensive (UN 2015). Having water as part of the strategic plan while moving to renewable energy sources is key.
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