Climate change and renewable mitigation

Climate change is the long-term change in the average weather patterns (temperature, rainfall, wind) of the earth, caused mainly by increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from burning fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture. Its effects include global warming, glacier melt, sea level rise and more extreme weather. Energy use (electricity, heat, transport, industry and buildings) causes about three-quarters of global GHG emissions.

How renewable energy technologies (RETs) help mitigation

1. Replace fossil fuels: solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass produce electricity and heat with almost no CO₂ in operation. Life-cycle emissions are about 5–50 g CO₂/kWh compared with about 800–1000 g/kWh for coal.
2. Biogas and clean stoves: reduce firewood use and methane release from dung, saving forests.
3. Biofuels: replace petrol and diesel; carbon neutral if grown sustainably.
4. Electrification: renewable electricity used in electric vehicles, heat pumps and induction cooking replaces fossil fuels in transport and buildings.
5. Decentralised access: micro-hydro and solar remove the need for diesel generators and kerosene lamps.
6. Green hydrogen from renewable power for industry and heavy transport.
7. Carbon markets and finance: RE projects earn carbon credits (CDM, Article 6) that attract investment.

Nepal's example: grid electricity is almost 100% hydropower, and its NDC and net-zero 2045 goals rely on more clean energy, EV promotion, clean cooking and biogas. COP28 set a target of tripling global renewable capacity by 2030 for limiting warming to 1.5 °C.