Though rapidly reducing global emissions will require a range of actions—from
preserving Earth's forests to changing the ways we travel—providing clean sources
of electricity is most critical.
Throughout history, when populations have grown and economic activities have
increased, the demand for energy has also risen, even as societies have become
more energy efficient. Assuming that populations and economies continue to expand,
energy demand will likely grow in the future. In particular, demand for electricity
will increase. Using current technologies, CO2 emissions from electrical plants
will also rise dramatically. In fact, power plants already contribute almost
30 percent of global CO2 emissions, and their share is growing faster
than that of any other source.