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Why do many climate scientists support replacing coal with solar and wind energy?
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coal utilization
Cross-regenerative coke oven. (A) Cross section, showing the alternating arrangement of flue walls and ovens; (B) longitudinal section, showing (left) a series of combustion flues in a single flue wall and (right) part of a long, slotlike oven.
Climate scientists advocate for a global transition from coal to renewable energy sources like solar power and wind power primarily to address the urgent climate crisis and mitigate severe environmental impacts.12
The support for this transition is grounded in several critical factors:
- Climate Change Mitigation: The burning of coal is the single largest contributor to anthropogenic climate change. It releases vast quantities of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas that drives global warming by trapping infrared radiation in the atmosphere.12
- Reduction of Air Pollution: Coal utilization produces harmful air pollution, including sulfur and nitrogen oxides that cause acid rain, as well as particulate matter and toxic heavy metals like mercury and arsenic, which pose significant risks to human health.12
- Economic Viability: In many global markets, the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources has become competitive with or cheaper than coal-fired power, and the costs of building and maintaining renewable infrastructure are often lower.32