RESOURCES 4: Al Gore Interview, Sankey Diagrams & Readings
Media
- Al Gore: The New Urgency of Climate Change
- Why do we need a clean energy transition? Climate change is putting pressure on oil and gas companies. In this illuminating interview, Al Gore discusses how the steadily declining cost of wind and solar energy will transform manufacturing, transportation and agriculture, offer a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear energy and create millions of new jobs. This video offers a lively debate about geoengineering and Gore's thoughts about how humanity can create a clean, prosperous future through a focused global effort and a generation of young people committed to change. This virtual conversation was hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson, was recorded June 23, 2020.
VIDEO - Al Gore: The New Urgency of Climate Change Links to an external site.
- How to Read a Sanskey Diagram
Required Reading
Deep-decarbonization of the electricity sector is critical to global climate mitigation. This MIT publication written by Nestor Sepulveda and co-workers analyzes various grid scenarios. Across a wide range of sensitivities, firm low-carbon resources—including nuclear power, bioenergy, and natural gas plants that capture CO2, consistently lower the cost of decarbonizing electricity generation. Without these resources, costs rise rapidly as CO2 limits approach zero. Batteries and demand flexibility do not obviate the value of firm resources.
MIT Study.pdf Download MIT Study.pdf
Optional Readings
The IEA and IPCC reports sound the alarm on climate. Also, you will find the ExxonMobil report on net zero commitments by 2050.
Additional Resources
McKinsey & Company - The Big Choices for Oil and Gas in Navigating the Energy Transition Links to an external site.