| Recently one of the hottest issues in news all over | | | | through nuclear power plants. Not only is it generating |
| the world is the rise in temperatures throughout the | | | | revenue of 3 billion Euros annually, French CO2 |
| world which can be potentially hazardous for our | | | | emissions are among the lowest in the developed |
| environment. The biggest cause of rising | | | | world. Netherlands is producing much of its energy |
| temperatures is carbon dioxide emissions into the | | | | through windmills, Brazil has one of the largest ethanol |
| atmosphere. Many human activities are resulting in | | | | fuel plant in the world while the US is producing |
| increase in these emissions; on the one hand new | | | | combined green power equal to more than 5 billion |
| industries being set up contribute heavily to this fact | | | | kilo-watt hours per year, which is enough to power |
| worldwide while on the other hand rising population is | | | | nearly 465,000 average U.S. households. Kenya, one |
| causing deforestation on a big scale. | | | | of the least developed nations has the world's |
| Electricity has become a basic requirement for every | | | | highest household solar ownership rate with roughly |
| country to develop its economy and industry. Most | | | | 30,000 small (20-100 watt) solar power systems sold |
| of the countries are producing energy by fossil fuel | | | | per year. Portugal and many other countries are |
| which is emitting carbon dioxide and other gases in | | | | making plans to make huge investments in this sector |
| the atmosphere. Environmentalists are arguing that | | | | while the European Union has set a target of 20% of |
| such energy sources should be used that are | | | | energy produced from renewable resources upto |
| non-polluting and friendly to the Earth's environment. | | | | 2020. Many developing countries are also seting |
| Energy produced from such eco-friendly sources is | | | | targets to be achieved in the coming decades. |
| also termed as 'green energy'. Such sources include | | | | Although, it is a fact that there is no energy source |
| solar energy, thermal power, hydro-power, tidal | | | | that is impact-free but with the adoption of |
| power, wave power and energy produced from | | | | eco-friendly methods of energy production there will |
| biomass. Nuclear power has also been classified as | | | | be a drastic decrease in the harmful green house gas |
| green energy but some environmental organizations | | | | emissions. The need of the hour is that with the help |
| have shown their concern over impact of nuclear | | | | of research and new technology, green energy |
| waste. | | | | production should be made less costly so that the |
| Many European countries and the US have adopted | | | | less developed countries can also readily adopt it, |
| such environment friendly energy production sources | | | | while the use of nuclear energy in a positive direction |
| while Australia, Brazil, China, Russia, Japan and other | | | | should also be encouraged. But the over all change in |
| developed countries have also taken measures to | | | | environmental policies of most nations and |
| effect. France, the largest net exporter of electricity | | | | International organizations is a visible alteration of |
| in the world, is producing almost 75% of its energy | | | | attitude. |