Renewability/Sustainability

Renewable energy is energy which comes from sources that are naturally replenished. Thus, use of renewable energy sources does not deplete the source or make it unusable for future energy requirements. Examples are solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal energy.


The term "renewable" and "sustainable" are often confused and are frequently used interchangeably. Whereas renewable refers strictly to the self-replenishing nature of an energy source, the term sustainable refers to the broader array of environmental conditions that affect and are affected by that energy source. To maintain a sustainable energy system, any source of energy derived from it must not only be renewable, but it must also support the environmental system of which it is a part and must not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their energy and quality of life needs.


Most of the energy sources currently used to power the world's economies are nonrenewable. Predominantly, these nonrenewable sources are fossil fuels - coal, petroleum, natural gas. When fossil fuels are burned they emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and climate change. Climate change is becoming a global danger and a major concern to all nations, both developed and undeveloped. There is a growing global effort to transition from the use of fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. This is a huge task, and the changes required to make that transition need to be implemented on all levels - international, political, institutional, business, and individuals.


To learn how you can participate with others in learning about transitioning to renewable energy and how you can take part in motivating governments to implement rules and laws that drive the world away from fossil fuels and toward renewables, go to the page Action Groups.