Every year, on June 5th, World Environment Day, an international event dedicated to safeguarding the planet, is celebrated.
An opportunity that concerns everyone because, even if we sometimes forget it, protecting the Earth and its ecosystems also depends on the daily choices each of us makes.
It is our responsibility, in fact, to make conscious decisions to limit environmental impact.
How?
There are many good habits we can adopt: avoiding waisting water, electricity and food; reducing emissions by using public transport; not supporting the fast-fashion industry. Additionally, it is important to favor the use of renewable energy.
Renewable Energy: What It Is and the Main Sources
Let’s start by defining renewable energy: it consists of clean energy sources that naturally regenerate over time and therefore do not run out. They represent an alternative to fossil fuels because they safeguard both human health and the environment.
The main sources of renewable energy are solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and marine energy.
The Use of Renewable Energy in Europe
The European Parliament strongly promotes the use of renewable energy, as it reduces pollution and decreases our dependence on the volatility of fossil fuel prices.
Data collected by the Parliament indicate that in 2022, renewable energy accounted for 23% of the energy consumption in EU countries. To meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda, the share of renewable energy in the EU must be increased to 42.5%.
The next target requires that by 2050, the majority of the energy consumed in EU countries comes from renewable sources.
How Much Do Italians Know About Renewable Energy?
At the end of 2022, the research institute Ipsos conducted a study on the perception and level of knowledge among Italians about renewable energy.
The result is that not only do Italians have great confidence in these energies, but their knowledge on the subject is also constantly improving.
More specifically, 8 out of 10 Italians are aware of renewable energy and are fairly informed; 13% can precisely identify all renewable sources (a percentage that has nearly doubled compared to a previous survey conducted in 2021, when it was only 7%), and the majority—77%—can identify a good number of them. Only 10% confuse renewable and non-renewable sources.
Access to energy is essential for our lives, which are increasingly dependent on technology, but it also has a significant impact on climate change, accounting for approximately 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
It is therefore clear how important it is to choose renewable energy to protect the world we live in.
The Museum of Saving regularly organizes online and in-person activities, suitable for different age groups, with the aim of bringing adults and children closer to the topics of energy saving and environmental sustainability.
Come visit us in the heart of Turin, follow us on social media, and check out our blog for more information.
June 5, 2024