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Hi, Plants stretch toward it. Animals bask in it. Life on Earth depends on the sun — and so does our clean energy future. Today is Solar Appreciation Day, and while nature already shows its gratitude, humanity needs to step up. Solar power can cut pollution leading to cleaner air and water, create jobs, and lower energy costs, but outdated policies are holding it back. The sun is the reason life exists on Earth. It provides heat, light, and vitamin D, fuels photosynthesis, and drives weather patterns that power wind, marine, and hydropower energy.1 Simply put, the sun is at the core of all our energy sources and it’s time we fully embrace its potential. On the other hand, fossil fuels are responsible for 75% of global greenhouse gasses. By reducing the use of fossil fuels as an energy source and investing in renewable energy, we can drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create tens of millions of jobs, and save money. In fact, investing in renewable energy now can save the world $4.2 trillion per year by reducing pollution and climate impacts.2 The sun also represents balance: not too far, not too close, creating the perfect conditions for life. Humanity, too, must find balance: between energy consumption and human health, between short-term convenience and long-term sustainability. The sun reminds us that happiness often comes from the simplest things, like feeling its warmth on our skin. Maybe it’s time to reconnect with what truly matters and let the sun inspire our choices. This Solar Appreciation Day, let’s do more than soak up the sun — let’s fight for clean energy! Together, Kathleen Rogers Footnotes: 1. National Geographic: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/power-sun/ 2. United Nations: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/raising-ambition/renewable-energy |
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