Renewable Energy and Environmental Problems Essay Example

energy crops. It is recommended that New Zealand utilize this resource to harness their energy potential both presently and in the future.

Advantages for the Environment and Health

Moreover, apart from being readily available, shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy will yield favorable outcomes for the environment and public health. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are eco-friendly and generate minimal greenhouse gas emissions. By embracing renewable energy, New Zealand will safeguard the ozone layer that protects humans from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

According to Wilson, Chapman, Clover and Howden-Chapman (2013), the utilization of renewable energy rather than fossil fuel offers a range of benefits. Not only does it protect individuals from diseases caused by pollution or ultraviolet rays such as skin cancer, but it also has environmental advantages. By reducing the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere, New Zealand can lessen its impact on public health. Delucchi and Jacobson (2013) further emphasize that renewable energy resources produce minimal greenhouse emissions, thus minimizing the potential for catastrophic accidents that could harm citizens' well-being.

Ensuring Energy Reliability

The substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources ensures that New Zealand has a reliable source of energy. Over-reliance on fossil fuels exposes national security to risks associated with trade disputes, political instability, conflicts, and fluctuating prices.

According to Kelly (2011), New Zealand's national energy policies will be influenced by these circumstances. The government aims to reach 95 percent of electricity production from renewable energy sources within the next fifteen years, as they have already achieved 60 percent. This demonstrates their faith in the potential of renewable resources.

Economic Benefits

In comparison to fossil fuels, renewable energy sources will have

a greater positive impact on New Zealand's economy.

The New Zealand government's backing in the development of renewable energy resources presents a lucrative investment prospect for renewable energy firms. This shift from fossil fuels to renewables ensures energy security and indirectly stimulates local job growth. Furthermore, renewable energy is financially advantageous and efficient when compared to other sources.

The implementation of measures to enhance renewable energy manufacturing in New Zealand and other European countries has resulted in the creation of numerous job opportunities. Furthermore, these renewable energy facilities have low maintenance requirements, leading to reduced overall energy costs. The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies also promises a bright future for individuals, families, farmers, and communities as they gain access to sustainable energy resources.

Advantages of Stable Energy Prices

By adopting renewable energy sources, New Zealand is able to effectively manage and stabilize energy prices through a consistent pricing strategy. Unlike fossil fuels, the cost of renewable energy is determined by investments rather than inflated prices of natural resources. As a result, the government only incurs minimal expenses compared to the exorbitant costs associated with fossil fuels. It is worth noting that New Zealand possesses one of the world's largest wind resources.

The government should make wind turbine technology a priority in order to generate sufficient energy for the country. This is crucial because wind power is a cost-effective energy source. According to Renewable energy resources (n.d.), only 38 percent of New Zealand's total energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2013, which is much lower than what the country could achieve given its abundant wind and solar resources.

Solidarity with Other Countries in Combating Global Climate Change
New Zealand also

needs to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources as part of its active participation in global efforts to combat climate change. The Kyoto Protocol involved state parties agreeing on measures to address climate change.

When discussing measures to tackle climate change, a major focus is shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy. In New Zealand, this transition has been successfully made by switching from coal to renewable resources. According to Straterra (n.d.), the role of coal as New Zealand's primary energy source will continue to decrease. This shift not only demonstrates New Zealand's commitment to environmental conservation but also represents a significant step towards combating climate change.

Counter Argument

However, there are drawbacks associated with replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy in New Zealand. Renewable energy sources replicate nature's processes during production, indicating that they have certain weaknesses as well.

According to Mason, Page & Williamson (2010), renewable energy sources such as windmills and solar panels necessitate considerable space in order to generate enough energy for consumption. Consequently, a significant portion of New Zealand's land must be allocated to meet the energy needs of its population. Furthermore, renewable energy operates on a natural cycle characterized by periods of abundance and scarcity. This is evident when the wind subsides, resulting in reduced effectiveness of windmills and consequently lower energy production.

Cloudy skies can have a negative impact on the ability of solar panels to generate enough energy, which could affect a country's energy availability. Therefore, it is important to combine renewable sources with fossil fuel energy because relying solely on renewables is not practical.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, renewable energy plays a vital role as an energy source and offers significant benefits

to New Zealand.

In order to ensure a sustainable environment for New Zealand both now and in the future, it is essential to address the replacement of fossil fuel energy with renewable energy. The Ministry of Environment, as a part of the government, has a responsibility to actively promote the use of renewable energy throughout the country. As previously mentioned, utilizing renewable energy offers numerous advantages such as environmental conservation, positive economic impact, and reliability. However, generating renewable energy will require significant land allocation by the government for machinery and facilities.

References

• Delucchi, M.A., & Jacobson, M.Z. (2013). Meeting the world’s energy needs entirely with wind, water, and solar power. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 69(4), 30-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0096340213494115
• Kelly, G. (2011).

The authors of the article titled "History and potential of renewable energy development in New Zealand" (Mason, I., Page, S., & Williamson, A., 2010) discuss the historical progress and future prospects of renewable energy expansion in New Zealand. The article was published in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (15(5), 2501-2509. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.01.021).

According to Sims (1996), New Zealand has the potential to achieve a sustainable energy future by relying solely on renewable resources such as hydro, wind, geothermal, and biomass. This aligns with information found on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's website regarding renewable energy sources in New Zealand. Both sources offer valuable insights into the country's energy policy and its ability to create a renewable electricity generation system.

9(1) 1049-1054. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0960-1481(96)88460-6

• Straterra. (n.d.) Mining and climate change.
• Wilson, N.

The New Zealand Medical Journal (2013) released a publication by Chapman, R., Clover, D., and Howden-Chapman, P., which suggests that the country's health outcomes could

be enhanced through the implementation of a groundbreaking energy strategy. The citation for this article is 123(1322), 92.