The Role of the Sustainable Energy Transition in Tackling Climate Change

21 July, 2025

Key Takeaways:

• The sustainable energy transition is the process of transitioning from environmentally harmful sources (like fossil fuels) to sustainable ones.
• Sustainable energy emphasizes energy sources that fulfill current needs, reduce environmental harm, and set up future generations for success, unlike green and renewable energy which prioritize only the current environmental impacts.
• With the global energy sector being the #1 reason for greenhouse gas emissions, a sustainable energy transition is key to stopping and reversing climate change.
• Some ways we can accelerate the sustainable energy transition include: scaling renewable energy production and storage, improving energy efficiency and providing economic incentives for sustainable energy.

Climate change is among the most pressing issues of our time, with its effects already being felt by individuals and communities around the world¹. Some of the direct impacts of climate change include severe and unpredictable weather events, abnormal seasons, and precipitation and heat issues that impact agriculture and livestock conditions. But the effects aren’t just in the realm of “natural” disasters like droughts, floods, and hurricanes. Climate change can also indirectly affect areas like public health² and the global economy³.

But, as scientists continue to remind us, hope is not lost⁴. Given that humans are the ones who are impacting the climate, it is our responsibility to fix it. One key way is to accelerate and prioritize the sustainable energy transition, which is the process of using more environmentally friendly energy sources and eliminating the harmful ones over time.

In this article, we will discuss what the sustainable energy transition actually is, why it’s important, the strategies we might take, and the true benefits of transitioning to sustainable energy.

What Is a Sustainable Energy Transition?

The sustainable energy transition refers to the transition from unsustainable energy sources to those that are sustainable, renewable, and/or “green,” such as geothermal, wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass. While there is overlap, these sources have their own nuances in terms of how these sources are acquired and how they are managed.

For example, Johannes Urplenainen, professor at Johns Hopkins University, has discussed Chile’s complicated relationship with the sustainable energy transition⁵. Chile has transitioned to using renewables for 64% of its power as of 2023, but their rapid transition model has left their infrastructure far behind, with frequent energy transmission and curtailment (the temporary reduction or failure of energy delivery) issues. This is to say that while Chile’s energy transition is renewable and green, it hasn’t been sustainable.

There are a lot of moving pieces involved in a sustainable energy transition. While transitioning to renewables comes with incredible benefits, there are also hurdles involved with overhauling infrastructure. A master’s degree in sustainable energy can help you understand all of the interconnected pieces of the sustainable energy transition.

Why Is the Sustainable Energy Transition Essential for Tackling Climate Change?

The biggest contributor to global climate change is fossil fuels⁶: burning coal, oil, and gas accounts for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and almost 90% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The biggest use of fossil fuels is to create energy that is used for power, manufacturing, and transportation, which mean that energy production using fossil fuels is the #1 reason for greenhouse gas emissions⁷. Given that our energy production processes are one of the primary reasons for climate change, these are the areas that are most critical for us to change.

Successful sustainable energy transitions, especially on the national or even global level, are a key method for humanity to reduce its impact on the environment. Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, and shifting to renewable sources that harness sustainable infrastructure, will greatly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions.

How Does Our Reliance on Fossil Fuels Affect The Planet?

Human activity, primarily power generation, deforestation, food production, transportation, and overconsumption are driving global warming and other indicators of climate change. As discussed, the reliance on fossil fuels for energy creation is one of the key drivers of climate change. Some of the ways in which our use of fossil fuels impact the planet include:

• Rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions⁸: Fossil fuels represented 81% of the total global energy supply in 2022, with the United States and China comprising 45% of global fuel combustion emissions. Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to higher global temperatures.
• Rising CO2 emissions⁹: When we burn fossil fuels, carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) are released into the air. While carbon dioxide doesn’t trap heat as much as other greenhouse gasses, there is now so much of it in the atmosphere that it accounts for 82% of GHG emissions¹⁰. High CO2 concentrations can also lead to a more acidic ocean, harming marine life.

By relying on fossil fuels rather than sustainable sources, we’re actively contributing to air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change as a whole. By transitioning to renewable sources and sustainable infrastructure, we can make a critical step toward the fight against climate change.

How Can We Shift to Renewable Energy Sources?

Shifting to renewable energy isn’t always simple, but it is possible. The highest likelihood of long-term success requires iterative, cooperative effort across sectors and nations. But the fact is that we need to prioritize the stable energy transition as much as possible. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change¹¹, global warming can’t be limited to ideal levels with rapid and intensive reductions of CO2 and GHG emissions in the energy system.

While total overhauls toward sustainable energy will take time, there are many wide-ranging strategies¹² we can take to accelerate the energy transition in a way that is sustainable and equitable for all.

Scale Renewable Energy Production and Storage

Developing more extensive renewable energy production processes and storage capabilities is a strong step toward widespread change. By quickly scaling up these sources, we’ll be able to cut emissions and improve energy access to communities struggling with energy poverty¹³.

While building renewable energy production facilities in a sustainable manner takes time, cost is not as much of a barrier as it used to be. Renewables are among the most affordable electricity options in most countries around the world, so developing renewable energy production and storage infrastructure is both accessible and beneficial for sustainability.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency in homes, businesses, and everywhere energy is used will continue to be a critical step toward reducing global climate change. Lowering power demands can help us avoid leaning on unsustainable energy sources, and improving efficiency helps us get more out of the sustainable energy we use. Energy efficiency can be applied to almost every aspect of daily life, including:

• Electric cooktops and ovens
• Better insulated and sealed buildings and homes
• Fuel-efficient or electric vehicles
• LED light bulbs
• Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems
• Low-flow showheads and faucets

By improving energy efficiency, we’re able to reduce power usage and emissions. Even small changes can have a big impact: for example, studies have shown that correctly insulating a home can prevent over two tons of CO2 emissions¹⁴ per home every year.

In addition to the environmental benefits, homeowners and businesses that prioritize energy-efficient solutions will also see decreases in costs associated with electricity, gas, and water.

Electrify Items in End-Use Sectors

Within energy efficiency improvements, one of the key steps we can take is to electrify items in end-use sectors. Items such as cooktops, ovens, cars, and HVAC systems often burn fuel directly, but electrifying them enables more efficient energy usage.

By improving energy efficiency and switching to electric — especially when that electricity comes from sustainable sources — we’re able to reduce fossil fuel usage and emissions. Even small changes can have a big impact: for example, gas-powered cooking in the United States alone produces over 25 million tons of carbon pollution¹⁷ every year.

Provide Economic Incentives

There are many reasons why businesses are reluctant to switch to renewable or sustainable energy sources¹⁸, but most of the reasons are related to the cost of transitioning and the perceived risks related to the uncertainty of renewable energy.

While the concern over the uncertainty of renewables is mostly a result of the outdated idea that renewables like solar and wind are intermittent, the worry about cost is something that can be eased through meaningful policy changes.

• Phase out fossil fuel subsidies¹⁹: Fossil fuels are the biggest driver of human-made climate change, yet governments continue to provide financial incentives to organizations that use oil, coal, and gas. Removing these inefficient subsidies can encourage renewable energy usage, as well as improve energy markets and positively impact government budgets.
• Create supportive policy and financing: With many businesses wary of the cost of implementing sustainable energy solutions, it’s important to reduce that barrier. Governments can offer tax credits, streamlined permit processes, and green energy subsidies to support companies that want to make the transition to sustainable energy.
• Disincentivize CO2 emissions: Carbon pricing²⁰, a policy approach that either places a fee on organizations that emit more CO2 or rewards organizations that emit less CO2, has shown success. And with new technologies like AI drastically increasing energy use and carbon emissions, carbon pricing is all the more important.

“The advent of AI is a perfect example of why we need carbon pricing. Without carbon pricing, the energy investments to power AI will be made in a haphazard and irresponsible way. We may end up with a surge in natural gas use or unnecessarily expensive clean energy capacity driven by a confused mess of tax credits, subsidies, and regulatory overreach.”

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—Johannes Urpelainen²¹

Ensure an Equitable Transition

Climate change mostly affects the poorest and most underserved populations²² in the world, despite being mostly perpetrated by the wealthiest nations and companies. While this knowledge can be overlooked, there are many activists, policymakers, and sustainable energy professionals hard at work to make sure that sustainability solutions are benefitting populations in an equitable way.

The sustainable energy transition should support the workers and communities most impacted by it. Some ways to do this²³ might include providing investment support to less developed countries, crafting policy shaped by the needs of local communities, ensuring that the creation of new energy production facilities leads to the equitable creation of jobs, and creating new energy initiatives that are accessible to lower-income households.

What Environmental Improvements Come With a Sustainable Transition?

The benefits of an overarching and total sustainable energy transition are unquantifiable. If we are able to completely reverse the greatest source of climate change, there’s no telling what benefits we might see.

But even on a smaller scale, there are great benefits to transitioning to sustainable energy solutions.
Some of the benefits we would see include:

• New jobs available in new sectors
• Drastically improved health outcomes
• Reduced government spending (such as fossil fuel subsidies)
• Improved air quality²⁴
• Fewer, more predictable, and less intense natural disasters
• Conserved natural resources
• Stronger biodiversity

About the MA in Sustainable Energy (online) Program at Johns Hopkins SAIS

Provided by a top global university, the Master of Arts in Sustainable Energy (online) at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) was created to help professionals gain the expertise needed to answer questions about how we can become more effective in our transition to sustainable energy.

Students have the opportunity to improve their base of knowledge and their critical thinking skills, helping them rise to leadership positions in their respective fields. This program equips graduates with the interdisciplinary expertise needed to lead energy transitions that are technically sound, economically viable, and socially equitable.

Developed with input from expert faculty, industry leaders and sustainable energy employers, the program and its courses are taught by highly experienced researchers and professionals. Students in the Johns Hopkins SAIS benefit not only from the expertise and industry connections of our faculty but also from our network of 230,000+ alumni.

Sources

All sources retrieved July 2025

1. Climate Risk Index 2025 — Germanwatch e.V.
2. The coming health crisis: indirect health effects of global climate change — PMC
3. Climate Change Could Become a Global Economic Disaster — The New York Times
4. 2024: 9 stories that prove not all hope is lost for climate progress — Vox
5. Vanguard of Energy Transition? — Johannes Urpelainen
6. Causes and Effects of Climate Change — United Nations
7. 4 Charts Explain Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector — World Resources Institute
8. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy Data Explorer – International Energy Agency
9. Carbon Dioxide | Vital Signs – NASA Climate Change Team
10. Some Greenhouse Gases Are Stronger than Others — Center for Science Education
11. Energy Systems — The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
12. Five ways to jump-start the renewable energy transition now — United Nations
13. Beyond access: 1.18 billion in energy poverty despite rising electricity access — United Nations Development Programme
14. The Environmental Implications of Poor Insulation — AZoBuild
15. Energy Intensity Indicators: Terminology and Definitions — US Department of Energy
16. Primary, secondary, final, and useful energy: Why are there different ways of measuring energy? — Our World in Data
17. Reality Check: Gas Stoves Are a Health and Climate Problem — RMI
18. Why Are Companies Reluctant to Transition to Renewable Energy? — Medium
19. Fossil Fuel Subsidies — International Energy Agency
20. About Carbon Pricing — UN Climate Change
21. Artificial intelligence underscores the need for carbon pricing — Johannes Urpelainen
22. Which countries are most affected by climate change? — Oxfam
23. 85% of countries want a fast transition to clean energy – but how do we make it an equitable one too? — World Economic Forum
24. Co-benefits of Global Greenhouse Gas Mitigation for Future Air Quality and Human Health — PMC

Disclaimer: This content has not been peer reviewed and is for informational purposes only.