Five Things Your Government Can Do

1. Support the Development of Renewable Energy

Energy from this solar park at Sanlucar La Mayor in Spain is cleaner than energy from oil or coal, while not posing the risks of nuclear power. Renewables like solar could be central in cutting carbon dioxide emissions. According to a report from the French think tank REN21, Germany and China are the biggest investors in renewable energy, each contributing 7 billion dollars to the total 30 billion invested worldwide in renewables in 2005. The German government plans to supply half of the nationally energy consumption from renewable sources by 2050. U.S. city Portland hopes to purchase 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2010. (Photo: Reuters)