Most of the world's [[energy]] today comes from [[fossil fuels]]. To change this, the following tech is needed:
[[Energy storage]], especially
[[Sodium-ion batteries]]
Reason: Because lithium-ion is [[lithium-ion#battery minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up]].
To be used for mid-range [[electric vehicles]] and smoothing out the day-night cycle of [[solar panels]].
They don't even have to be as energy dense as [[lithium-ion]].
[[Energy sources]] - some combination of
[[Solar panels without scarce minerals]]
Reason: Most of today's [[solar panels]] on the market are [[solar panel minerals|too mineral-intensive to scale up]].
To be installed on as many [[rooftop solar|rooftops]] as possible.
This could provide enough "general-purpose" electricity for homes, buildings and [[EVs]], but not enough for [[heating]] in cold parts of the world.
[[Wind turbines]]
Mostly for producing [[hydrogen gas]]
Can later be burned for [[heating]] buildings and in [[hydrogen combustion vehicles|vehicles]]
[[Fuel cell vehicles]] are too platinum/palladium-intensive to scale up, but hydrogen production [[hydrogen gas#platinum-group metals|is not]].
During local windy seasons, can also be used for electricity directly.
[[Thorium power]]
Note that other forms of [[nuclear]] are not viable to scale up
[[Conventional nuclear power]] uses too much uranium-235 (too scarce)
Uranium-238 [[breeder reactors]] have too many weapons proliferation concerns
[[Nuclear fusion]] probably won't be viable soon enough, even though it'll ultimately be the best option in the distant future.
Until the above tech is ready, developed countries must reduce [[energy demand]] - most effectively by...
Driving less
Individual action: Walk, bike, or use [[public transit]].
Collective action: Making neighborhoods more [[walkabile]] and improving [[public transit]].
Buying less new "stuff"
Individual action: [[Frugalism]]
Collective action: Fight against [[planned obsolescence]]
Yes, these actions would have the most impact - see [[:File:energy-demand-pie1.png|this pie chart]].
Note that [[climate change]] isn't the ''only'' major environmental problem. There's also [[habitat loss]]. The most effective way to stop this is via [[food]]:
Reason: Because agriculture uses more [[land]] than any other human activity.
Stop [[food waste]]
(both personal ''and'' business food waste)
Make food more [[plant-based]]
(both personal choices ''and'' systemic changes make a difference here)
Yes, these actions make the biggest difference, both for the environment and for ending [[global hunger]].