Climate change is affecting all of us in numerous ways. From the penguins of
Antarctica to corporate executives in Tokyo, everyone is feeling the
effects of our shifting climate system in one way or another.
Whether we accept it or not, the cumulative effects of human industrial
activities are altering the atmosphere in a way that severe droughts and
floods
are becoming much more common; and this may only be the beginning of what’s to
come.
The Amazon rainforest, until recently dubbed the “lungs of the planet,” now
releases more C02 than it
absorbs
— the result of deforestation and a rapidly changing climate.
This changing landscape, on a local and global level, has led to a
record-breaking drought that has expanded beyond the Amazon itself and into
neighboring countries and regions — with wildfires setting parts of Venezuela
ablaze
and Colombia experiencing a drought so severe that water restrictions are
now inevitable in major cities such as
Bogotá.
Showers and power — a growing crisis
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The mayor of Colombia’s capital, Carlos Fernando
Galán, has gone as
far as instructing the city’s
inhabitants
to “shower as a couple” because “behavioral changes are key.”
But the threat goes beyond being able to take showers (either alone or together)
and water lawns: Another challenge posed by the water shortages is power —
especially since hydroelectricity is the country’s leading source of
electricity.
Isagen, a leading producer of renewable energy that
also powers much of the region with its hydroelectric power plants, is also
feeling the pinch in a part of the world previously considered a hydro-paradise
for its abundant water resources.
"Isagen and other hydroelectric generation companies have reported a noticeable
decrease in water contributions during the final quarter of 2023 and the
beginning of 2024," Ines Velez,
the company’s corporate relations coordinator, told Sustainable Brands®.
The major player in Colombia’s energy market recently
warned
that — with two-thirds of the country’s electricity coming from hydroelectric
sources — electricity generation is under threat due to the low levels of water
in the country's reservoir.
Preparing for the future
Considering the growing effects of the climate crisis in this part of the world,
the hydroelectric industry is preparing itself.
“Colombia’s vulnerability to natural disasters has become more pronounced,”
Velez said. “And for this reason, we continue to implement our plans of
mitigation and adaptation with regards to climate risks, measuring the climate
footprint of our operations and maintaining our commitment to further reduce
these emissions.
“Protecting natural resources and preserving ecosystems is vital for Isagen —
which is working to recuperate and protect water basins and biodiversity, with
our own programs and initiatives to protect these ecosystems,” she concluded.
But what happens if the rivers get too low for hydroelectricity to work at all?
That would be tragic, and we can only hope such a situation never presents
itself. But with the increasingly powerful effects of a climate system in
disarray, the scenario cannot be ruled out.
Sustainable diversification is key
One potential remedy would be for the hydroelectric sector to invest more in
other renewable
energies
— such as
solar,
wind
power
and even harnessing waste
heat.
The lack of rain in this corner of the world has been the result of a lack of
clouds, which also means an abundance of sun. Solar energy is a still miniscule
market in Colombia and its neighboring countries, and there is ample room for
investment and growth in the sector.
Wind energy also has plenty of potential — with the abundance of mountains in
the Andean countries of South America being ideal ground (if developed with the
appropriate consideration for and cooperation with local Indigenous
communities)
for leveraging the stronger winds found at higher elevations.
Another prime location for wind power is just above the ocean: Offshore wind
power
has the capacity to produce more
electricity
than that on land; and its environmental footprint tends to be lower than
land-based hydropower — which cuts off rivers, affecting wildlife both
underwater and on land.
A country such as Colombia, which relies on hydropower for nearly 70
percent
of its electricity, would benefit immensely from sustainable energy
diversification. But Colombia’s exposed terrestrial water supplies are not alone
in facing shocks from droughts — the same are already being seen and felt across
much of the region and around the world.
As our climate systems become more erratic — the result of unsustainable energy
consumption in our increasingly populated and industrialized world — clean
sources of energy will become ever more precious; and scaling and diversifying
sustainable ways to harness it will be key to our survival.
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Roberto Guerra is a bilingual writer, editor, entrepreneur, corporate engagement and communications specialist, and US Air Force veteran with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Universidad de la Sabana (Bogota, Colombia) and an International Master in Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility from EOI Business School (Madrid, Spain). Born in New York and raised in Florida, Roberto is former managing director for the Spanish-language version of vegan business magazine "vegconomist" and is also author of three novels. He has lived, worked and studied on four different continents.
Published Apr 19, 2024 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST