Renewable energy is a key element of climate change mitigation, but it offers a wide range of benefits to society in addition. This includes helping countries reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, creating jobs, lowering electricity bills for consumers, promoting economic development and poverty alleviation, as well as providing a safe environment that protects human health.
Sunlight and wind are two of the most widely used renewable energy sources. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells, while wind energy uses rotors to create electricity from the energy of moving air. The resulting electricity is clean, affordable and safe for the environment, making renewables an increasingly popular option.
Solar and wind power also emit significantly fewer greenhouse gasses than traditional fossil fuels during their production. While coal produces around 2.2 pounds of carbon dioxide for every kilowatt hour of energy, solar and wind produce none at all.
Additionally, renewable energy does not require the excavation of coal or natural gas to produce energy, which has a significant negative impact on local communities and wildlife. Instead, renewable energy projects can be built close to homes and businesses to create a more sustainable and localized economy. Renewables can even be used to produce heat, which eliminates the need for additional emissions-producing fossil fuels for home heating.