As the years pass and we begin seeing the effects of climate change more frequently and more dramatically, environmental action only continues to become a greater international concern. However, we see that in our own... [ view full abstract ]
As the years pass and we begin seeing the effects of climate change more frequently and more dramatically, environmental action only continues to become a greater international concern. However, we see that in our own politics as well as others, the shift to a greener energy infrastructure still faces great opposition from the belief that energy security should primarily be protected through obtaining as much oil as possible, as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, a handful of countries are already far along in their transition to a greener and more economically sound energy infrastructure, including Uruguay, a small South American country with a third of the population of Michigan. Despite this country's unassuming size, there is still incredible value in being a leader in environmental policy, and larger countries can learn a lot from the policies they have implemented. For this reason, my investigation explores the successful Uruguayan energy transition from fossil fuels to 94.5% renewable energy in order to determine which specific aspects of its transition can be replicated in a nation that is 100 times its size. The intended outcome of this investigation is to demonstrate how a nation can successfully shift toward ethical energy sources without any need for subsidies or increased consumer costs.
This investigation takes a holistic approach of exploring the forces that shaped Uruguay's energy transition, including politics, economics, geographic advantages and disadvantages, technology, and cultural/societal influences. Specifically, in regards to politics, I was interested in understanding the rise of the Broad Front party, which has been the popular party since 2004, right around the same time as the beginning of their energy transition. Cooperation between parties has been essential to their success. For example, "La Politica Energetica 2005-2030" detailed how the success of their plan depended on all political parties agreeing on a solution to global warming and participating in support of the national energy transition. This was a huge asset toward the country staying on track to achieving its goals for the distant future, and it also prevents the plan from being dismantled as soon as the presidential party changes.
Overall, there is great value in learning from the lessons of Uruguay's movement toward a new energy infrastructure - one that is cleaner for the environment, beneficial to society, and productive for the national economy.
