The Role of Digital and Scientific Technology in Complimenting Global Legal Framework Towards Clean Energy Transition

Abstract

The global environment is endowed with several natural resources including energy sources such as biomass, hydro, and the potential for gas and oil production. However, the exploration of these energy sources is considered essential for economic development and growth global. However, harnessing and utilizing some of these energy sources such as biomass fuel products and fossil fuels are regarded as unfriendly to climate earth. This is concerning the fact that recent climate change and global warming are deemed to be associated with toxic chemical waste as a result of the exploration activities from harmful energy sources which often reduce the environment to a deplorable and vulnerable state. Hence, there is need for incorporating technology and scientific discoveries such as the metaverse concept, nanotechnology and biotechnology, towards clean energy transition. The study adopts a doctrinal method of study, the data obtained from primary and secondary sources were analysed through analytical and descriptive methods. The study found that, although fossil fuel, traditional biomass, thermal power, and nuclear power are essential for economic development and growth. However, they are considered a greater threat given their unfriendly nature to climate earth. Although there are global laws and agreements (such as Kyoto Protocol, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) concerning curtailing the use of harmful energy sources, there seems to be a high demand for these energy sources, thereby leading to severe climate change. The study further reveals that current technological and scientific discoveries such as metaverse concept, nanotechnology and biotechnology could aid in clean energy transition. The study therefore concludes and recommends that, given the harmful nature of conservative energy sources to climate earth, there is a need for a global shift toward promoting sustainable technology and scientific discoveries such as metaverse concept, nanotechnology and biotechnology toward a cleaner energy transition.