Accessibility Tools

Every day we use fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal in modern life, contributing to high greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce your ecological footprint, you should be aware of the amount of energy you consume and try to reduce your non-renewable energy consumption. Switching to renewable energy resources as consumers and consuming less are crucial to limit your negative ecological, social and economic impact.

“Fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) contribute actively to global warming. Most of the Western countries are now totally oil dependent, which makes them very vulnerable. As the extraction will become more expensive, prices will increase, dramatically weakening our economy. The fight for the control of fossil fuels is (and will be) the cause of numerous conflicts and geopolitical situations endangering many populations. It is already the case. Nuclear energy is far too expensive and too dangerous, it consumes massive amounts of water and produces toxic waste we still do not know how to get rid of.” (demain-lefilm.com, 2014)

Students can contribute to SDG 7 by changing their energy consumption and by advocating for affordable and clean energy for all. You can empower your students to contribute to SDG 7 by teaching them to think in a systematic way and to craft “pictures” of the future in which they see the ecological, social and economic impact of their individual short term decisions related to energy consumption on a global scale and in the long term. It also requires the students’ capability to facilitate change in order to advocate for more sustainable energy resources. SDG 7 includes sub-targets related to: the increase of affordable, reliable, modern and renewable energy and access to it, clean energy research and technology services and the development of clean energy infrastructure, certainly in the least developed countries.

Action Area

  • Energy efficiency

    Energy efficiency

    We all use a lot of energy such as electricity in our daily life for our appliances at home, often without being aware of it. Our electricity demand increases the electricity production, which often comes from power stations burning fossil fuels, producing high greenhouse gas emissions. As an individual you can increase your energy efficiency by becoming aware of the energy you use for your household appliances, turning them off when possible or opting for appliances which use less energy. This way you can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and reduce your electricity bill.
  • Energy consumption

    Energy consumption

    Using renewable energy resources has also a positive impact on reducing greenhouse emissions. You can contribute to this action area by becoming aware of the type of energy (renewable or nonrenewable) you use at home and by shopping/consuming less because everything you buy impacts the environment. The production process of daily life products requires (often non-renewable) energy. Also your transport habits have a big impact on the amount and type of energy you use.
  • Participation

    Participation

    Students should be aware of their power in society and their ability to act as change agents for a better world. As sustainability leaders they can try to influence the local policies and decision makers by advocating for change in their own community. When it comes to energy production, they can promote renewable energy production by taking part in local initiatives that promote renewable energy or influence their family and friends to install renewable resources at home (solar panels, mini windmills, geothermal,…) or to opt for a 100% renewable electricity supplier.
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