Climate Facts: Renewable energy sources generate 29% of global electricity

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can make it difficult to digest. TheCable’s quick climate facts will help demystify these concepts through easy-to-understand and straightforward explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

• The United Nations says fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
• In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels caused $2.9 trillion in health and economic costs, about $8 billion a day.
• Renewable energy sources are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air. 
• About 29 percent of the electricity used globally currently comes from renewable sources.
• Electricity from renewable sources could decarbonize 90 percent of the power sector by 2050, massively cutting carbon emissions and helping to mitigate climate change.

This story is published in partnership with Report for the World, a global service program that supports local public interest journalism.