The leaders of India and France recently
launched an international solar alliance
of over 120 countries at the Paris COP21 climate
summit. This was really good news.
Never before had so many countries pledged
to make solar power a priority. Let’s try to
imagine some of the changes that will take
place over the next 50 years.
TEN YEARS: Many people have solar
panels on their roofs, creating enough solar
power to light up their homes. When children
forget to turn lights off, their parents
no longer have to shout, “Stop wasting electricity!”
Instead, they shout, “Stop wasting solar energy!”
TWENTY YEARS: People walk around wearing special
hats covered with tiny solar panels. They use the
solar energy generated to charge their cellphones and
Wifi-enabled watches, glasses, and earrings. In cooler
parts of the world, the solar energy is used to generate
heat to warm people’s bodies. A new word is
added to the dictionary: “Solarified.”
THIRTY YEARS: Indian billionaire
Mukesh Ambani, now 88, helps build the
world’s first road that’s made almost entirely
with solar panels. The panels generate
enough energy for all the digital billboards
advertising Reliance products along the
road.
FIFTY YEARS: Solar-powered cars and
planes are common. People plan long trips
according to the weather. If it’s a sunny day,
they can drive or fly for several hours. If it’s
a rainy day, all travel plans are cancelled. People stay at
home and listen to grandpa and grandma tell stories
about the good old days when humans didn’t have to
rely upon the sun for energy.
Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI, author of the novel Bala Takes the Plunge.
[Comments? Contributions? Please email us at melvin@melvindurai.com. We welcome jokes, quotes, online clips, and more.]