What Does the UN Climate Conference (COP26) Mean to Us?

Annual Average Temperature Map

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annual_Average_Temperature_Map.jpg

As I am sure you are aware, the world has turned its attention to the UN Climate
Conference (COP26) in Glasgow these past weeks where world leaders are sharing
progress on their climate commitments and discussing what must be accomplished to
reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Every year, the world adds approximately 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases to the
atmosphere, trapping heat and increasing global temperatures. Getting to net-zero will
be an enormous challenge. The only way to avoid the worst impacts of climate change
is to stop adding greenhouse gases. Period!

People say that COP26 will go the way of the Paris Accord, meaning very little will
happen. But this time, we have to move forward. As Barrack Obama said in Glasgow,
"We can't afford to stay where we are. The world has to step up and it has to step up
now," he said. "There are times when I am doubtful that humanity can get its act
together before it's too late.”

Truly, forward is the only way to go. We cannot afford hopelessness, each and every
one of us must do something. Goals will not be met unless the attitude is developed that
we are all part of the problem and must do our collective part, yes, each of us. Just
waiting for others to do something first, the goals will never be met, and our children and
grandchildren are doomed to experience a very uncertain future.

Today, we are in the race of our lifetimes: a race against the climate clock that ticks
faster with every ton of carbon dioxide emitted into our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is
the climate’s worst enemy. The only way we will deal with the global climate crisis is by
focusing on its main contributor: energy production and energy use, which represent
70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. We all must be focused on transforming how
we produce and use energy. The goal is simple.

No doubt about it, getting to net-zero will be an immense challenge. It means

transforming virtually every activity in modern life and every major sector of the
economy: electricity, buildings, manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture.

Can the world rise to this challenge? I would never have thought we would have ever
joined globally and collectively to fight for anything. Then with Covid individuals, states,
provinces, countries, governments, industries, all come together to fight this pandemic.
Ok, we are not there as yet, and many mistakes have been made, but we have learned
immensely from this. We can work together!

Now, it’s time to get together once again, in an even more dreadful scenario, the ruin of
life as we know it on OUR Planet. Yes, our collective planet. Can our world rise to this
challenge? Yes, we can!

Getting To Zero Requires:

1. Understanding the problem
2. Developing solutions
3. Working together
4. Doing our part

We do understand the problem, we know the solutions that must be developed, ie.
COP26.

One of the challenges relating to our Climate Crisis is that greenhouse gases result—
directly or indirectly—from almost every human industry and activity. Together,
humanity can avoid the worst of the destructive climate change effects. Achieving net-
zero by 2050 cannot be achieved
without sustained support and
participation from people.

To preserve the planet, each and

every one of us must work
together, to use all the creativity
and determination possible. As
individuals working together to
reduce our carbon footprint, as
small as it may sound is enormous.
There are 7.9 billion of us.
Collectively, we can work together
and do our part.
One of the challenges relating to our Climate Crisis is that
greenhouse gases result—directly or indirectly—from Other*
almost every human industry and activity. Together,
humanity can avoid the worst of the destructive climate Res&Com
change effects. Achieving net-zero by 2050 cannot be Power
achieved without sustained support and participation from &
33 Gt CO2 Heat
people. The changes necessary will affect multiple Industry
aspects of our lives – from electrical energy use,
transportation, buildings both commercial and residential,
heating, and cooling. Just focusing on transport and
industry is not enough. Transport

Sustainability starts at home and there are some basic September 2021 - TotalEnergies
Energy Outlook
actions that can be taken to reduce energy use. It is
estimated that around 55% of CO2 reductions are linked to individual choices. We must
take responsibility and review all we can do to stop wasting and start conserving
energy. There is no silver bullet solution. In this series of articles, we will develop the
concept that energy not used is energy saved. Here are two examples:

Building Energy Loss

There are many ways to reduce energy use in the building we work and live in.
Buildings use both electrical and fossil fuel heating and cooling of the building. Before
we start to make retrofits, it is best to first know where the energy is being lost. With this
understanding, retrofits can be focused, less costly, and effective. Nothing does a better
job of identifying building envelope energy gain or loss than Infrared Thermography.
You have heard the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. This works with
Energy use as well. Just telling people that there are problems…somewhere does not
get a lot of interest but showing them proof in a picture and they become interested…
they can see the losses and waste.

External Image showing which buildings have Internal Image excessive clearly showing energy
excessive energy losses losses and gains in the house walls and roof.

Electrical Energy Use

Electricity is used in almost every human activity. The major sources for the production
of electricity and heat are coal (39% of global electricity production). From the energy
use side, all electricity and heat are consumed in industry, transport, agriculture,
commercial/public services, and residential sectors. Besides making the building
envelope more energy-efficient, as important as the amount of electricity we use in our
daily lives.

This thermal image clearly shows worthless energy use: Phantom power usage is
created by not turning off your electrical devices.

In conclusion, COP26 was the biggest and most important climate-related conference
on the planet. This time we all must take responsibility and bold actions- not gradual
changes- to do all we can do to stop wasting and start conserving energy. We can
never give up. Never retreat.

The clock is ticking. Now is the time to act, we are in the fight of our lives, and this fight
must be won. Failure to address the climate crisis at the scale and speed necessary
threatens the future of humanity.

The measure of a man is what he does with power — Plato

This article starts a series of articles on reducing personal energy loss then we will
cover commercial and industrial opportunities. The next article will review residential
and building envelope losses.

InfraRon
www.infraredinstitute.com