Timeline and Policies Needed to Transition

The solution to global warming, air pollution, and energy security requires not only a technical and economic roadmap but also popular support, political will, and a rapid rollout of the solution. In fact, the main barriers to transitioning to 100 percent clean, renewable energy are neither technical nor economic; instead, they are social and political. People need to be confident that a solution is possible, to understand what changes they can make in their own lives to solve the problems, to make such changes, and to support policymakers in passing laws to speed a transition. Policymakers, themselves, need to understand the urgency, and therefore take bold steps. One of the most important factors leading to a change is education about what is needed and how fast it is needed. This chapter discusses the necessary timeline for a transition, obstacles in the way of meeting the timeline, actions that individuals can take, and policies that are needed to overcome the obstacles to reach the 100 percent goal on time.