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Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-Heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition

Author

Listed:
  • Megan K. Seibert

    (The REAL Green New Deal Project, Albany, OR 97321, USA)

  • William E. Rees

    (The REAL Green New Deal Project, Albany, OR 97321, USA
    Faculty of Applied Science, School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada)

Abstract

We add to the emerging body of literature highlighting cracks in the foundation of the mainstream energy transition narrative. We offer a tripartite analysis that re-characterizes the climate crisis within its broader context of ecological overshoot, highlights numerous collectively fatal problems with so-called renewable energy technologies, and suggests alternative solutions that entail a contraction of the human enterprise. This analysis makes clear that the pat notion of “affordable clean energy” views the world through a narrow keyhole that is blind to innumerable economic, ecological, and social costs. These undesirable “externalities” can no longer be ignored. To achieve sustainability and salvage civilization, society must embark on a planned, cooperative descent from an extreme state of overshoot in just a decade or two. While it might be easier for the proverbial camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for global society to succeed in this endeavor, history is replete with stellar achievements that have arisen only from a dogged pursuit of the seemingly impossible.

Suggested Citation

  • Megan K. Seibert & William E. Rees, 2021. "Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-Heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:15:p:4508-:d:601755
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ted Trainer, 2022. "Can Australia Run on Renewable Energy: Unsettled Issues and Implications," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 1-17, December.
    2. William E. Rees, 2023. "The Human Ecology of Overshoot: Why a Major ‘Population Correction’ Is Inevitable," World, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Lucia Tamburino & Philip Cafaro & Giangiacomo Bravo, 2023. "An Analysis of Three Decades of Increasing Carbon Emissions: The Weight of the P Factor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Dillman, K.J. & Heinonen, J., 2022. "A ‘just’ hydrogen economy: A normative energy justice assessment of the hydrogen economy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Bolson, Natanael & Yutkin, Maxim & Rees, William & Patzek, Tadeusz, 2022. "Resilience rankings and trajectories of world's countries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    6. Alexey Cherepovitsyn & Evgeniya Rutenko, 2022. "Strategic Planning of Oil and Gas Companies: The Decarbonization Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-26, August.
    7. Mark Diesendorf, 2022. "Comment on Seibert, M.K.; Rees, W.E. Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-Heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition. Energies 2021, 14 , 4508," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-5, January.
    8. Mark Diesendorf & Steven Hail, 2022. "Funding of the Energy Transition by Monetary Sovereign Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-14, August.
    9. Ediger, Volkan Ş. & Berk, Istemi, 2023. "Future availability of natural gas: Can it support sustainable energy transition?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    10. Megan K. Seibert & William E. Rees, 2022. "Reply to Diesendorf, M. Comment on “Seibert, M.K.; Rees, W.E. Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-Heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition. Energies 2021, 14 , 4508”," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-8, January.
    11. Marco Raugei, 2023. "Addressing a Counterproductive Dichotomy in the Energy Transition Debate," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 1-6, September.

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