It’s Getting Hot In Here

I would like to share the statement made by Yochanan Zakai at the Commission on Sustainable Development during the session on advanced energy technologies on behalf of the youth and children. The statement was recalled by the Chair of the Session and praised by the audience. – JH

Good afternoon. Any fuel that produces a significant amount of pollution that has detrimental impacts on human health and increases the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is inherently dirty technology. Fossil fuels are dirty fuels, no matter how efficient.

Sustainable energy solutions, such as clean energy production, are catalyzed by youth participation. I would like to highlight the study of St. Olaf College, where youth participation has fostered clean energy production. On the campus of St. Olaf a 1.6 MW windmill is being constructed to supply one third of the campuses’ energy needs. At St. Olaf, as well as at schools around the world, students are asking for clean energy and these requests are making a real difference in supplying the energy needs of schools and educating students about clean energy sources.

I would like to respond to the concerns of the Representative of Kuwait about wind energy. It has been shown that the average wind turbine kills three birds a year. I have visited a wind farm and I found that its noise pollution was also negligible. This is not a significant environmental damage compared to the millions of humans that suffer as a result of fossil fuel use.

I would also like to speak about carbon sequestration and storage. CCS cannot be used as a justification for the continuation of a fossil fuel based economy. Vulnerable communities are impacted by the production of fossil fuels. CCS does not fix this extraction-based problem.

Similarly, environmental and social concerns need to be addressed regarding carbon sequestration. We are concerned with the environmental inequality of sequestration projects that could disrupt the livelihood of rural communities. We recognize that carbon sequestration offers options for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. It is important that clear guidelines be developed to secure the environmental and social integrity of these projects. The Commission on Sustainable Development should address the concerns and barriers vis-à-vis CSD 15.

In conclusion, the youth of the world recognized that we will be using fossil fuels next year. But by the time our generation is in charge of things, it doesn’t have to be that way. We ask you, the leaders of today, to leave us with a sustainable world fueled by green power.