Earth Day 2021 Theme is “Restore Our Earth”
President Biden recently declared climate change to be “the number one issue facing humanity, and it’s the number one issue for me.”
The lead battery manufacturing and recycling industries agree that immediate steps can and must be taken to protect the planet’s future.
Earth Day is a reminder that every citizen and business has the opportunity to take climate change action and reduce their environmental impact. The lead battery manufacturing industry is doing just that. It is providing sustainable and innovative lead batteries in applications to store renewable energy, reduce auto emissions and enable electric vehicles (EVs).
Uniting to Slow Climate Change
Industry and government need to work together to meet the immediate challenges posed by President Biden’s ambitious goals.
According to the White House, “Scientists have underscored the need to limit planetary warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to stave off the worst impacts of climate change.” The 1.5-degree Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) threshold represents the target goal established by the Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 nations in December 2015 to address the threat of climate change. Though 1.5-degrees Celsius may not seem significant, it is. The Earth’s natural and human systems are sensitive to a warming climate, and leading scientists say that slight temperature variations can have enormous consequences.
This Earth Day, President Biden will be hosting a Leaders’ Summit on Climate with 40 world leaders. The Administration says it intends the to be the first of many discussions leading up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will be held in Glasgow this November.
“A key goal of both the Leaders’ Summit and COP26 will be to catalyze efforts that keep that 1.5-degree goal within reach,” the White House said.
Lead Batteries Can Advance Climate Change Mitigation
There are endless examples that underscore the need to take action now. The lead battery industry is doing so. As world leaders, including U.S. leaders, consider technologies and industries for investment to aid the transition to a new clean-energy commitment, we encourage them to consider that lead batteries can support a global shift to a greener future.
Renewable Energy – The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that global energy needs will continue to rise by 1% per year until 2040, adding demand equivalent to China’s current total. Renewable energy sources – supported by lead battery technology – will help meet that demand. Lead batteries provide energy storage for wind and solar farms to capture energy generated, store it, and release it when needed. Lead battery systems are key to reduce power fluctuations and increase reliability to deliver on-demand power.
Start-stop Technology – This technology reduces fuel consumption and emissions by stopping the engine when the car comes to a full stop and seamlessly restarting when the brake is released. Annually, it’s expected that start-stop technology using lead batteries will help eliminate 5.3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. That’s the equivalent to the annual energy use of nearly 500,000 average U.S. households.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) – Lead batteries are in nearly every EV manufactured in the U.S. providing reliable auxiliary power, and EV demand is growing worldwide. Research shows the global electric vehicle market was estimated at $140 billion (U.S. dollars) in 2019. It is expected to reach $700 billion by 2026.
Lead batteries will continue to play an important safety and security role in those vehicles. If an EV’s primary battery fails or overheats, the auxiliary lead battery provides the backup power to ensure the driver can still brake, steer and access essential electrical and safety functions in an emergency. Lead batteries also store, regulate and ensure power at EV charging stations.
All Climate Change Actions Matter
Mitigating climate change happens at local and global levels, both individually and collectively.
The U.S. lead battery manufacturing and recycling industry is committed to investing in new innovations and increasing performance to meet greener-market needs. You can take action, too. Adjust your thermostat to a new set point, buy products with less packaging, or combine errands into one trip.
It all contributes to slowing climate change and restoring our planet.
