A Clear Energy Policy for Survival

Abstract

The debate on the relationship between the energy industry on one hand, and the health of people and the environment, on the other, has changed at great speed in the last few months. One single overarching issue remains: that of climate change. This is now recognized by all the most authorized groups, including IPCC and the United Nations. There is no doubt that life, as we know it, will come to an end within a foreseeable future. The catastrophe can only be avoided if mankind stops generating “greenhouse gases”. The importance of this measure has superseded that of dealing with the emission of the toxic substances contained mainly in fossil fuels; this could be mitigated by technological and administrative measures. Climate change can only be controlled by means of the complete substitution of the presently employed energy sources by truly clean ones, namely: wind, the sun, underground heat, marine energy and small hydroelectric installations. Technological advance is now most needed in the area of hydrogen generation from clean sources of electricity. Government policy should now be clearly and swiftly oriented towards the prevention and cure of climate change. There is no need to wait for more evidence on the main issue. As regards nuclear energy, at least in a country like Chile, it seems definitely unnecessary to consider it, in view of the existence of simpler and safer alternatives available in our territory.