Ecological Transition: A Global Effort to Reduce Pollution and Improve Quality of Life
For several decades, numerous countries have been committed to an ecological transition that affects several areas. This transition, which has been accompanied by a rigorous legislative framework to ensure drastic respect for the new practices it implies, has led to profound changes in sectors such as industry, energy, transportation, and agriculture.
The primary objective is to establish behaviors, modes of operation, and practices that are clean and sustainable, respectful of the environment, in order to combat pollution and improve the quality of life. Enormous efforts have been made in France, Germany, and other European countries, where not only is everything that can harm the environment and constitute a source of harmful pollution strictly prohibited by law, but also where renewable energies represent a significant share of national electricity production.
In African countries, as part of the fight against pollution, recyclable bags have been replaced by plastic bags for a long time, emphasized expert Houcine Rhili during his appearance on Radio Mosaïque. He also noted that the threshold of ecological transition has been successfully crossed in countries like Germany, where solar energy represents 12% of national electricity production, despite the country having a low rate of sunshine (150 days per year).
Challenges in Tunisia
In Tunisia, due to low investments in the field of renewable energies, and although strategies have been put in place to boost the use of clean energies, the energy transition is struggling to materialize, as evidenced by the figures. 95% of national electricity production continues to be generated from fossil fuels, according to Houcine Rhili, while the renewable energy development strategy and the Tunisian solar plan aim for renewable energies to constitute 30% of total energy production by 2030. This ambitious objective highlights the national challenge of energy transition.
Pollution in Tunisia: A Mixed Record
On another level, Tunisia has been ranked 37th out of 113 countries in terms of pollution (air, sea, noise, etc.), based on a series of indicators (air quality, pollution of water and marine resources, waste management, etc.). This ranking can be neither qualified as good nor bad. According to expert Houcine Rhili, efforts still need to be made in terms of waste management in urban areas, pointing to a shared responsibility between several local institutions, which makes the process ineffective and complex.
Conclusion
The ecological transition is a global effort that requires the commitment of all countries to reduce pollution and improve the quality of life. While some countries have made significant progress in this area, others, like Tunisia, still face challenges in achieving their energy transition objectives. It is essential to continue investing in renewable energies and implementing effective waste management strategies to ensure a sustainable future for all.
