Embrace Renewable Energy with Caution

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A shift towards renewable energy is crucial for addressing climate change and conserving finite fossil fuels. However, this transition raises concerns regarding the increased demand for rare materials like copper, lithium, and cobalt, which are often sourced from geopolitically sensitive regions. The existing energy infrastructure is also not entirely sustainable, as components such as inverters and solar panels will require significant maintenance and replacement within a couple of decades. As we expand both renewable energy and fossil fuel usage to meet the global demand for energy, careful consideration of resource availability and environmental impact is essential.

(Recorded July 8 2024)

There are many so-called ‘solutions’ out there that, upon first glance, seem like great ideas - yet when we look beyond the narrow scope of the immediate benefits, we discover a slew of unintended (and often counterproductive) consequences.

Today’s Frankly offers a series of examples of modern issues using a “wide-boundary” lens - and in the process demonstrates the importance of asking “...and then what?” when thinking about our responses to future events and constraints.

How would incorporating wider boundary lenses into our lives change our plans and expectations for the future? What are we missing when we go all-in on plans to expand renewables, electric vehicles, and AI? Could a growing number of ecologically literate people guide us towards more pro-social policies, institutions, and infrastructure?

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