Green Energy Choices: The Benefits, Risks and Trade-offs of Low-Carbon Technologies for Electricity production – Factsheet

Rising energy demand and efforts to combat climate change require a significant increase in low-carbon electricity generation. Yet, concern has been raised that rapid investment in some novel technologies could cause a new set of environmental problems. The report of the International Resource Panel (IRP) Green Energy Choices: The Benefits, Risks and Trade-Offs of Low-Carbon Technologies for Electricity Production aims to support policy-makers in making informed decision about energy technologies, infrastructures and optimal mix. Compared to coal, electricity generated by hydro, wind, solar and geothermal power can bring substantial reductions in emissions, not only of greenhouse gases (by more than 90%) but also of pollutants harmful to human health and ecosystems (by 60-90%). The capture and storage of CO2 from fossil fuel power plants will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70%, but increase the pollution damaging human health and ecosystems by 5-80%.