Topic: Encouraging Alternative Energy
Country: Sudan
Delegate Name: Abigail Pointer
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Sudan position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
For several years now the globe has been concerned with the warming of the planet and the severe environmental repercussions that it causes. A major cause of the warming of the planet is the burning of fossil fuels(which are also scarce and unrewable resources) as well as other types of air pollution. In order to combat this issue, alternative energy is being heavily encouraged by countries that can manage and afford it. Sudan has been made several actions in attempt to increase the amount of alternative energy used within their country, and due to Sudan’s diverse topographical range, many types of energy sources can be supported. The switch in Sudan is greatly needed, as 44% of electricity is generated via fossil fuels.
Though Sudan’s electricity is heavily based off fossil fuels, the country is also actively looking for new ways to increase the amount of alternative energy used. Actions such as the Sudan Renewable Energy Master Plan, written in 2005, have been taken in order to allocate money to install more photovoltaics and biomass co-generation throughout the country.This was successful to some extent, because in 2009, 47.8% of total gigawatt hours were reliant on alternative energy. In 2014, Sudan and the UNDP also came to an agreement that would help utilize funds to create a long term wind-energy project to diversify power sources, limit reliance on fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gases.
Despite the optimistic statistic of 47.8% of energy being alternative, only 35% of Sudan’s population is connected to the electric grid. This means that 65% of the people in Sudan either are without power at all or more commonly, belong to a village that has hooked a small generator to a diesel powered irrigation pump. This method is inefficient, expensive, and environmentally unfriendly, causing Sudan to be more economically inefficient. Sudan hopes to acquire more solar power in order to transition irrigation into an environmentally effective process. This will reduce emissions of CO2 and the burning of excessive diesel fuel.
Sudan heavily supports the use of alternative energy in order to preserve fossil fuel and lessen pollution. Sudan has seen the benefits that using alternative energy can bring, and encourages any country that has the potential and means to transition their energy sources to alternative. Since there are so many different types of alternative energy, such as geothermal, wind, solar, biomass, and much more, finding a geographical/climate that will lend itself to usage should not be difficult for most countries. Though it may be more expensive, if all countries begin to slowly shift into alternative ways, the long term benefits for the Earth and future generations will overshadow the present costs.
