In the batch of oriented baccalaureate (BAC) subjects [1], the proposal for the March 2021 SES test made a particular impression on us. On page 12, the subject of the third part is presented as follows [2] :
Using your knowledge and the documentary record, you will show how innovation can be a solution to the ecological limits of economic growth.
The file referred to includes a graph showing the significant increase in national R&D spending on environmental protection between 2006 and 2015 [3]. In addition, there is an article extolling the virtues of renewable energies and presenting them as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Finally, the decrease in carbon intensity per km driven by car between 2007 and 2017 is presented in graph form.
Let's take up the three arguments to highlight the weaknesses of this topic. First of all, the positive evolution of the expenditures in favor of the environment warns us about the superficiality of the proposed arguments. Indeed, in the face of the urgency of the transition discussed in the subject, the means put in place, however costly, are absolutely not enough, only the results count. However, when we study the correlation between energy consumption and GDP (the only indicator of economic growth to date) at the global level [4], despite the efforts made in innovation, economic growth remains closely linked to energy consumption. In order to grow, GDP therefore needs additional energy, and innovation does not change this fact. How can economic growth and GHG emissions be decoupled in this context?
The second document of the corpus tries to answer this problem. Renewable energies are presented as the miracle solution:
- There is a general trend to abandon fossil fuels in favor of renewables. This first statement is simply not true. The trend is rather to add renewable energy to an ever-increasing fossil fuel fleet.
- 15% of the world's electricity is generated from renewable sources, which implies that we are on a good trajectory to reach the 85% renewable primary energy commitment by 2050. A classic confusion has crept in here between electricity and energy. Electricity is simply a part of the energy consumed. This is why, at the global level, only 5% of energy comes from renewable sources [5]. We are still far from the 85% objective.
- Solar and wind power yields have made significant progress in recent years. Once again, this statement is incorrect since the load factor1 of these technologies has hardly changed between 2012 and 2021 and varies between 5% and 50%. [6].
There is therefore no evidence that renewable energies are replacing fossil fuels. This paper shows that economic growth cannot continue without depleting the limited resources of fossil energy. This depletion also results in the emission of quantities of GHGs well above the limits set by the Paris Agreement.
The last argument that appears in the corpus is a classic: innovation allows for the improvement of the efficiency of machines, which leads to a decrease in the various impacts, including the carbon impact. Unfortunately, in real life, the last argument that appears in the corpus is a classic: innovation allows to improve the efficiency and the output of machines, which induces a decrease of the various impacts, including the carbon impact. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. Everyone knows that the price of a product is equal to the unit price multiplied by the quantity. For carbon, it's the same thing. The carbon impact is equal to the carbon intensity multiplied by the quantity involved, which allows us to have a homogeneous result with a mass of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. In the case of a car, it would be the quantity of CO2 expelled over one km, multiplied by the distance traveled. Thus, by only looking at the price, i.e. the evolution of the carbon intensity of a km driven by car, we hide the other half of the problem.
However, if we look at the other half, we realize that the number of kilometers traveled in France by vehicle has increased between 2007 and 2017 by 16.9%! [7] It is true that vehicles emit a little less for each km driven, but the number of km increases on the other side. Moreover, the average age of the French car fleet is 10.2 years [8]. The improvement in the performance of new vehicles will therefore only be felt in ten years and not immediately.
A well-informed student cannot therefore demonstrate the proposition of the topic from the documents in the corpus. Innovation, as discussed here, with wind turbines and high-tech combustion engines, is not a solution to ecological limits. It is interesting to note that only one of these limits is addressed: the climate. But the issues of biodiversity, depletion of rare earths, water and many others are not addressed. While the IPCC and IPBES are starting to work together on climate-biodiversity issues [9], this oversight is a stain.
At Jybe, we believe that innovation can still allow us to adapt to planetary limits in order to continue living comfortably. However, behind this term we think of many more exciting topics than solar panels and cars. By exploring around the world topics such as low-tech, ancient technical knowledge, alternative economic and societal models and resilience, we hope to soon be able to offer real innovations to make our presence on the planet sustainable in the long run.
1 Load factor: The load factor is the ratio between the electrical energy actually produced over a given period and the energy it would have produced if it had been operating at its rated power during the same period.
Sources :
[1]https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/economie/140621/bac-2021-en-economie-un-sujet-loin-d-etre-neutre
[3]http://www.donnees.statistiques.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/lesessentiels/indicateurs/a200.html
[4] https://theshiftproject.org/lien-pib-energie/7
[5] De quoi se compose le mix énergétique mondial en 2020 ? (gazprom-energy.fr)
[7]SDES-Bilan de la circulation d’après SDES, CCFA, Setra, Asfa, Kantar-Worldpanel, TNS-Sofres, CPDP
[9] « Climat et biodiversité doivent désormais être abordés ensemble » (actu-environnement.com)
Adeline M.
March 21, 2022Je découvre cet article avec bonheur !
Vous revenez quand pour nous en parler à l’Icam ? 🙂
Bon vent les matelots
Lucas
April 3, 2022Merci pour cet agréable commentaire, on est de retour en juin 2023 ! On reste en contact d’ici là !