What is it about?
Clean energy technologies (wind turbines, solar cells, biofuels, etc.), are likely to reduce and/or eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels. However, all should also be aware of the potential contribution to ill health and environmental pollution resulting from consumption of energy and raw materials, generation of waste, and the negative impacts related to some life cycle phases of these technologies. Therefore, countries must consider as equally important implementation of environmentally sound practices along with transitioning to clean energy technologies.
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Why is it important?
Poor and developing countries should not view ill health and environmental pollution resulting from development of green energy technology as necessary evils. They can be prevented, if these countries start implementing environmentally sound practices along with the transition to green technologies in line with their technological development and overall economic growth.
Perspectives
While many in the developed world may think this topic is well past its ‘sell by’ date it is still very much relevant to the developing world, which is only beginning (or even just still planning) to transition to using green energy technologies. Time to time reminders, such as this paper, are thus important to remind those who might have forgotten while encouraging those who are still at it.
Dr Puleng Matatiele
National Health Laboratory Service
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A cautionary approach in transitioning to ‘green’ energy technologies and practices is required, Reviews on Environmental Health, January 2016, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2016-0004.
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