The recent explosion of green energy around the world has been busting a lot of myths over the past few years. The myth that green energy could never exist on an industrial scale was common for years, for example. But now there are at least four states in America who are getting all their power from renewable resources, and there are half a dozen states catching up to them. Green technology was always going to be prohibitively expensive, the common wisdom said, but the prices have all but tunneled into the ground as the market for green energy has surged, and demand has risen.
Perhaps the biggest myth that’s been held up about why we shouldn’t consider going green, though, is that it will hurt our economy to do so. After all, in a time where the whole world is coming out of a recession, is this the time to take such risky behavior?
Well, yes, as it turns out.
World Economy Grows Without Corresponding Greenhouse Gas Increase
For 200 years, any growth in the economy came with a growth in emissions. It makes sense, because when all major industries and electricity are powered by fossil fuels, a bigger economy that needs more energy means that more fossil fuels are being burned. However, when fossil fuels aren’t the only source of energy available, there’s no reason to use them to drive the economy.
Put another way, correlation does not prove causation.
Which is important to note, because for two years now world emissions have remained relatively stable, but the economy has increased, according to Quartz. This is due, in large part, to how so many countries have embraced green energy on an industrial scale. Additionally, since green energy remains a growing part of the economy, many countries are continuing to invest in it as a way to create new jobs, and provide necessary services to their citizens.
Is it possible to go green without compromising our lifestyles? It’s hard to say, but we do know that it’s possible to do it without driving our economy off a cliff.
