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A Rapid Solar Transition is not only Possible, it is Imperative!

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  • David Schwartzman
  • Peter Schwartzman

Abstract

Catastrophic climate change (C3) is inevitable if carbon emissions to the atmosphere are not rapidly reduced and the now unsafe atmospheric level (400 ppm) CO2 (and rising) is not brought down by sequestration technologies to below 350 ppm. C3 prevention is possible with the replacement of global fossil fuel supplies by wind, concentrated solar power and photovoltaics, with the main obstacle being the political economy of global capitalism, specifically the Military Industrial (Fossil Fuel, Nuclear, State Terror) Complex. C3 prevention likely requires global demilitarization, agroecologies replacing industrial/genetically modified organism (GMO) agriculture, solarization, and democratic, bottom-up governance. Energy poverty in the global South must end, reaching a rough minimum of 3.5 kilowatt/person. This solar transition is achievable in 20 to 30 years using less than 40% of the proven reserves of conventional petroleum, while supplying sufficient energy to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere using agroecologies and burial of carbonate in the crust, thereby maximizing the possibility of reaching a safe atmospheric CO2 level in time to prevent C3.

Suggested Citation

  • David Schwartzman & Peter Schwartzman, 2013. "A Rapid Solar Transition is not only Possible, it is Imperative!," African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(4), pages 297-302.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rajsxx:v:5:y:2013:i:4:p:297-302
    DOI: 10.1080/20421338.2013.809260
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