uruguay
Credit: Markus Distelrath/Pixabay
Uruguay's leap into renewable energy: a model for the world
Uruguay has nearly eliminated fossil fuels in electricity production, showcasing a successful transition to renewable energy.
In short:
- Uruguay, once heavily reliant on imported oil, now generates up to 98% of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily wind power.
- The transformation, led by physicist Ramón Méndez Galain, involved installing about 50 windfarms.
- This shift not only reduced dependency on fossil fuels but also created approximately 50,000 new jobs, demonstrating a successful model for other countries.
Key quote:
"I told people this was the best option even if they don't believe climate change exists. It's the cheapest and not dependent on crazy fluctuations [in oil prices]."
— Ramón Méndez Galain, former Uruguayan Energy Secretary
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate, and health.
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Image by Magdalena Dutra from Pixabay
Putting salt in tap water and drilling wells in parks: One city's desperate quest to avoid running dry
For weeks, the public water utility in Montevideo has been mixing salty water from the Río de la Plata estuary with fresh water from the Paso Severino reservoir to stretch supplies, after applying for an exemption to normal rules on salinity in drinking water.
Image by Ernesto Velázquez from Pixabay
Uruguay drought spurs water safety caution, as bottled water sales surge
Uruguay stands out for its history of investing in safe drinking water. But extreme weather has caught the country flat-footed as it faces the safety risks of prolonged drought.
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Photo by Alex Teixeira on Unsplash
Day Zero threatens Uruguay's capital
In Uruguay, a mounting crisis is unfolding as ‘Day Zero’ – when the public water supply is depleted – draws closer in Montevideo.
‘What does sustainable living look like? Maybe like Uruguay’
No greater challenge faces humanity than reducing emissions without backsliding into preindustrial poverty. One tiny country is leading the way.
www.nytimes.com
What does sustainable living look like? Maybe like Uruguay
No greater challenge faces humanity than reducing emissions without backsliding into preindustrial poverty. One tiny country is leading the way.
What does sustainable living look like? Maybe like Uruguay
No greater challenge faces humanity than reducing emissions without backsliding into preindustrial poverty. One tiny country is leading the way.
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