The global benefits of a rapid transition to renewables

The science is clear: To ensure a livable planet, we must transform our global energy system, the primary driver of climate change. Now, a report by WWF and the Boston Consulting Group quantifies the value of acting fast to improve energy efficiency, scale up renewable energy sources, and electrify everything from stovetops to vehicles.

Building a Nature-Positive Energy Transformation emphasizes that rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels would yield substantial environmental and socioeconomic benefits, including improved air and water quality, food security, and human health. By 2050, for example, the air quality index would be 70% better than today’s, and global biodiversity loss would slow. More than twice as many jobs would be created as in a business-as-usual scenario.

But the transition must be implemented thoughtfully. Clean energy development in the wrong places—like bioenergy supplanting native prairies or new dams fragmenting free-flowing rivers—would pose significant risks to ecosystems and communities. To minimize impacts, the report suggests strategies such as installing wind turbines on land already converted for agriculture. The key is holistic planning that engages communities and integrates conservation objectives from the get-go.