Governments play an important role in promoting renewable energy and climate action. They have the capacity to mobilize and coordinate, set standards, facilitate markets, and provide support to low-income families and communities.
Mobilize and coordinate
Governments can play a critical role in mobilizing and coordinating public resources to support research, development and deployment (RD&D) of green energy technologies. They can coordinate efforts to develop the technology necessary for cleaner power generation, such as solar panels or wind turbines, as well as increase investment in these technologies by supporting private firms’ R&D activities with tax credits or grants.
Governments can also help ensure that low-carbon infrastructure investments are made where they’re most needed by providing incentives for utilities to invest first in renewable energy projects before they invest in fossil fuel projects–a strategy known as “prioritization.
Set standards
- Set standards for the energy supply chain. Governments can set conditions on how much of their electricity is produced from renewable sources, or they may choose to require that a certain percentage of their vehicles be electric.
- Set standards for end-use sectors (e.g., buildings, industry). The government can require that all new buildings meet higher efficiency standards and offer tax incentives for retrofitting older ones. They can encourage households by providing grants or rebates for installing solar panels on residential rooftops; this will help reduce emissions while also reducing household costs by lowering utility bills.
- The same goes for industry: if you’re working in a factory setting where there are lots of machines running 24/7 (like an oil refinery), then maybe it makes sense to invest in solar panels instead of diesel generators so your workers can take breaks without worrying about losing power.
Facilitate the market
Governments can also provide information about green technology and how it works so that people are able to make informed decisions about what type of system is best suited to their needs and budget.
Finally, governments should reduce barriers to entry into the market by removing regulations that hamper clean energy production or require expensive permits before starting an installation project (such as installing solar panels).
Be the lead buyers
Governments can act as lead buyers to ensure that green technology is accessible and affordable. In Australia, the government has committed to ensuring that all new light vehicles are electric or hybrid by 2030. This will help drive down the price of these technologies so that they become more accessible to consumers.
Governments can also help businesses become more sustainable through policies such as carbon pricing and pollution taxes, which create incentives for businesses to invest in low-carbon technologies and processes. They can also provide funding for research into renewable energy sources or initiatives like EV charging stations (which Tesla recently announced it would build).
Provide support to low-income families and communities
Low-income families and communities are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. They have fewer resources to prepare for extreme weather events or adapt their homes and livelihoods, so they’re more likely to suffer damage when a natural disaster hits.
In order for low-income families and communities to reduce their exposure to these risks, governments should provide them with support through:
- Accessing clean energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines
- Providing education and training programs that help people prepare for changes in temperature patterns so they can better manage them (this might involve helping farmers plant crops that grow better in warmer temperatures)
- Providing support for jobs in industries related to green energy production
Bottom Line
Governments have a key role to play in promoting green energy and climate action. They can mobilize and coordinate efforts, set standards for clean technologies, facilitate markets for clean energy, be lead buyers of renewable energy, provide support to low-income families and communities affected by climate change–and more.