Over the last years, we have witnessed significant changes on how we take care of the planet by harnessing renewable power, which also greatly benefits our health and the economy. These include taking vital steps towards reducing carbon emissions often caused by burning of fossil fuels, like natural gas, crude oil and coal.

Renewable energies do not produce the same level of damage to produce electricity. The Union of Concerned Scientists, a national nonprofit organization founded by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), notes that “burning natural gas for electricity releases between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO2E/kWh); coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of CO2E/kWh. Wind, on the other hand, is responsible for only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of CO2E/kWh on a life-cycle basis; solar 0.07 to 0.2; geothermal 0.1 to 0.2; and hydroelectric between 0.1 and 0.5.”

Furthermore, wind and solar energy are also substantially reliable and resilient, and allows for the building of infrastructure that are “distributed and modular”—meaning, since renewable sources are essentially infinite and not confined within a specific area, they can continue to supply power.

Unlike non-renewable power sources like coal, nuclear, and various natural gas plants, wind and solar systems do not require water to generate electricity. Water scarcity poses a risk on the former, since adequate water supply is needed for energy production and the volume depends on the type of fuel, power-generating method, and cooling method used.

According to the scientists, “wind and solar photovoltaic systems do not require water to generate electricity and can operate reliably in conditions that may otherwise require closing a fossil fuel-powered plant.”

In addition, renewable energies “tend to have far fewer—if any—impacts on water [quality],” as opposed to thermal sources do, such as producing substantially hotter steam that’s also referred to as “thermal pollution”; acid rock drainage, which can change the pH level of nearby streams to the same as vinegar; and the creation of wastes that contain toxins such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, as well as coal combustion that can lead to acid rain.

This is why renewable energy not only addresses the devastating effects of climate change, but also create a more sustainable future for the environment.