Conclusions
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regional, and local levels. Cumulatively, they can not only influence the actual
economics of different technologies but also the perceptions of the economic
situation. Policies and actual locations interact; the resources and demands
for energy are different in big cities, in rural areas (including for agriculture), in developing versus developed countries. Policies and processes for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality need to reflect
local conditions and be under local control in order to achieve that. Elinor
Ostrom’s principles for managing common goods provide explicit guidelines
like this – and others – for structuring the social situation for maintaining the
renewable common good that is our atmosphere.
16.6 The Future of Reducing Emissions and
Improving Air Quality
In 2015, the estimated number of early deaths due to poor air quality in
China was reported to be 1,600,000 (RTA, 2019). When the article ‘Reducing
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improving Air Quality: Two Global
Challenges’ was published in 2017 (Erickson, 2017), the connection between
the two actions was not as widely appreciated as it is now in 2019. Because
many of the actions that need to be taken to improve urban air quality are
now cost effective to do, the years ahead will see more and more actions
that will reduce emissions and improve air quality. Indeed, it is already
documented that the benefits of actions that improve air quality often exceed
the costs of doing those actions (Gardiner, 2019). This is particularly the case
for the many large cities of the world that do not meet the recommended air
quality standards for good health. Replacing coal- fired power plants with
electricity from renewable energy and transitioning to EVs for transportation
are now possible and these transitions can be accomplished cost- effectively.
Where do things go from here? In certain respects, the current trends will
continue: Renewable energy, EVs, batteries, and the electrical grid will all
keep getting progressively better. People will gradually adapt. There are a
few things, however, that are not as immediately obvious.
One of the significant developments that needs to be stressed is the great
decreases in the costs of solar panels and batteries. Both of these have
become much more affordable, not only changing the economics in existing
infrastructures, but also fundamentally creating opportunities that previously did not exist. For instance, people who live where there is no electrical
grid can get stand- alone electrical systems because the cost has been reduced
by about 80%. The opportunity to have an off- grid electrical system is now
possible for many more people. Developments such as these additionally
feed into the Sustainable Development Goals, and they are good examples of
what can to be done to improve global quality of life. Electricity can be used
155
1 5 5
regional, and local levels. Cumulatively, they can not only influence the actual
economics of different technologies but also the perceptions of the economic
situation. Policies and actual locations interact; the resources and demands
for energy are different in big cities, in rural areas (including for agriculture), in developing versus developed countries. Policies and processes for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality need to reflect
local conditions and be under local control in order to achieve that. Elinor
Ostrom’s principles for managing common goods provide explicit guidelines
like this – and others – for structuring the social situation for maintaining the
renewable common good that is our atmosphere.
16.6 The Future of Reducing Emissions and
Improving Air Quality
In 2015, the estimated number of early deaths due to poor air quality in
China was reported to be 1,600,000 (RTA, 2019). When the article ‘Reducing
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improving Air Quality: Two Global
Challenges’ was published in 2017 (Erickson, 2017), the connection between
the two actions was not as widely appreciated as it is now in 2019. Because
many of the actions that need to be taken to improve urban air quality are
now cost effective to do, the years ahead will see more and more actions
that will reduce emissions and improve air quality. Indeed, it is already
documented that the benefits of actions that improve air quality often exceed
the costs of doing those actions (Gardiner, 2019). This is particularly the case
for the many large cities of the world that do not meet the recommended air
quality standards for good health. Replacing coal- fired power plants with
electricity from renewable energy and transitioning to EVs for transportation
are now possible and these transitions can be accomplished cost- effectively.
Where do things go from here? In certain respects, the current trends will
continue: Renewable energy, EVs, batteries, and the electrical grid will all
keep getting progressively better. People will gradually adapt. There are a
few things, however, that are not as immediately obvious.
One of the significant developments that needs to be stressed is the great
decreases in the costs of solar panels and batteries. Both of these have
become much more affordable, not only changing the economics in existing
infrastructures, but also fundamentally creating opportunities that previously did not exist. For instance, people who live where there is no electrical
grid can get stand- alone electrical systems because the cost has been reduced
by about 80%. The opportunity to have an off- grid electrical system is now
possible for many more people. Developments such as these additionally
feed into the Sustainable Development Goals, and they are good examples of
what can to be done to improve global quality of life. Electricity can be used