Paraguay Gets 100% Of Its Energy From Renewables — Why Can’t We?

Climate change deniers and the lackeys of Big Oil, Gas and Coal would have us believe that a switch to renewables and away from fossil fuels is some herculean task that would take decades and isn’t even yet possible with current technologies. But a fascinating new infographic should put that in perspective.

We hear a lot about how international climate change agreements would be unfair to the United States, because they would so burden the U.S.,  while developing nations just keep adding to the problem. Funny then to see that Ethiopia gets 88% of its energy from renewable sources. Colombia: 87%. Angola: 97%. Lesotho: 100%… In fact, globally, 45 countries get 60% or more of their electricity from renewables and 13 countries get more than 95%.

It’s not a matter of technology. Solar, wind, thermal, and hydroelectric sources are transforming the energy consumption of countries around the globe. But those countries aren’t dominated by big-money fossil fuel interests. And so as China invests more than $300 billion dollars over 5 years to develop alternative energy and combat climate change, we continue to build coal-burning power plants and frack away our water supply.

By: Sandi Behrns

Sandi Behrns is a noted policy nerd, new media & web developer, and consultant to progressive organizations and campaigns. She is a senior contributor to Liberaland, and the Executive Editor of Progressive Congress News.