The key role of renewables like wind power in tackling climate change is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy consumption.
The European Environment Agency assessment on greenhouse gas emission trends in Europe concluded that "the promotion of renewable energy has been the greatest impact on emissions in most EU Member States for both implemented and planned policies." Greenpeace's calculations show that to keep open the option of remaining below 2°C global temperature rise means cuts in industrialized country emissions of at least 30 percent.
But while that might seem difficult, it pales in comparison with the task of both convincing and enabling the booming economies in China and India to take the urgent and necessary actions to tackle climate change. One part of both convincing and enabling these countries to participate in the task of saving the climate will be the reorganization of their energy sectors. Wind energy can and should play a major role in that.
External links:
European Wind Energy Association
Global Wind Energy Council
