The basic message of our original article remains; refer to article here:
So, what has happened in the past year since our article was first posted:
On the positive side:
Malaysia to invest RM13billion (USD2.8billion) in energy efficiency over the next 17 years, i.e. about RM0.8billion per year, as part of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). Much of the energy savings will be achieved through energy efficient retrofitting of the residential buildings (15% energy savings by 2040) and of buildings in the commercial and industrial sector (22% energy saving by 2040); link
A swift 100% transition to renewable energy is possible - and cheap. The simple message by energy transition expert, Mark Z Jacobson (Stamford University), in his new book "No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air" (link)
80% energy savings potential in building across the World, listen this optimistic podcast by energy efficiency guru, Amory Lovins, from the Rocky Mountain Institute (link)
EU fossil fuel burning for electricity fell to lowest on record in 2023 (link)
On the negative side:
Malaysia's fossil fuel energy subsidies reached a record high of RM37billion last year (2022), link.
The next climate summit (COP28) will be held in United Arab Emirate and will be lead by the CEO of the national oil company, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), which recently has announced a significant expansion of their oil and gas exploration. Conflict of interest, anyone? (watch passionate speech by Al Gore, link)
With record high global temperatures in July 2023, the UN Secretary-General says the World has gone from "Global Warming" to "Global Boiling" (link)
So, the conclusion from last year's article remains relevant as ever: The defining struggle of our generation is to fully decarbonised our society to avoid catastrophic irreversible climate change. In other words, to achieve independence from fossil fuels sooner rather than later.
And the good news is: This shift away from fossil fuels is also the cheapest way forward when all costs are counted.
Happy Merdeka Day!
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