Sustainability was in the news lately for COP26 (Conference of the Parties) summit. Singapore have pledged to phase out unabated coal power by 2025. That is some good news from a little nation moving towards sustainable energy sources. However, it is newsworthy to note that the top coal consumers have not made similar pledges.
Missing Players for Sustainability
The key missing players of coals consumers to phase out coal is a worrying concern. It signifies the ongoing concern to balance economic growth with sustainability. Afterall, we are trying to restore the damages done. The constant delays from these countries to commit are setback for the rest of the world. The good news are more and more countries are ready to pledge to Carbon free commitments.
Long Road to Sustainability
The journey to Carbon free or net zero carbon emission will be long and tough. From each summit, the major players remains non committal. Sometimes, there are lack of targets shown. It will not be easy to remove entrenched economies tied to fossil fuels. As end consumer, we need to play our part to ensure minimum carbon footprint.
Sustainability summit is like show and tell with missing key players again. It is like watching a soccer match with no star players. Hopefully, we get to see all stars lineup for the summit making the same pledges. Meanwhile, we have to settle for sneak preview!
Danny Kwok 