January 12, 2016 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Historic Accord Plots Path for Sustainable Future

Paris has been in the news a lot recently, and a substantial portion of the media coverage has been devoted to the tragic terrorist attacks that took place in November. But not even those harrowing events could derail the momentum of the historic 2015 UN Climate Change Summit that took place in early December.

Representatives of 195 nations gathered in Le Bourget to collectively hash out an agreement that would stave off the potentially cataclysmic effects of climate change. On December 12th, the terms of the global pact were finally reached, to the sound of thunderous applause from all parties present.

The agreement dictates that participating nations should take concrete steps to reduce their carbon emissions as soon as possible, and should do their best to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (or 3.6 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.

3.6 Degrees

That figure is drawn from economist William Nordhaus’s 1975 assertion that a change of more than 3.6 degrees would “take the climate outside of the range of observations which have been made over the last several hundred thousand years.”

In the decades following Nordhaus’s statement, that specific figure gained acceptance among the scientific community, becoming a sort of climate change redline, or tipping point.

Does the Paris Climate Accord Go Far Enough?

Critics of the accord point out that while its aims are admirable, it lacks meaningful enforcement mechanisms. Not only that, but the commitment is purely voluntary, leaving it up to member nations to police themselves.

However, few would deny that the historic climate change accord is a step in the right direction. And for solar installers, it represents a welcome boon.

The Smart Money’s on Solar

Despite dire warnings from the scientific community, fossil fuels are still a very profitable business. Eager for handsome returns, investment firms have continued to inject money into the energy industry’s old guard.

But the Paris agreement seems to indicate that “business as usual” may no longer be a safe bet for investors. As governments look for ways to uphold the commitments made in Paris (however voluntary they may be), they’re sure to look for alternatives to carbon-intensive energy sources.

Some experts forecast a fundamental shift in global financial and energy markets as consumers, businesses, and governments opt for renewable energy sources over coal, oil, and natural gas.

Solar Growth Is Unstoppable

As renewable energy sources go, solar is undoubtedly one of the most practical, cost-effective, and scalable solutions available. It can be deployed en masse or in miniature: across an expansive desert or on an individual rooftop. Solar has become as affordable as purchasing electricity from the utilities, and in many markets, it actually offers substantial long-term cost savings.

So why wouldn’t businesses, governments, and individual consumers go solar, especially in the wake of the Paris agreement? Solar is clearly a solution whose time has come.

As a solar installer, you already know that the solar industry has been growing by leaps and bounds, and the accord reached in Paris should only accelerate that exponential growth.

For solar energy, and for your solar business, the future is looking brighter than ever.

[Photo via: Cleantechnica]

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