Energy and Climate Change

Researchers are improving our understanding of how changes in the production and use of energy can impact, and can be impacted by, climate change. The ways that energy is produced and used are changing, with increased use of biofuels, growing numbers of vehicles that use electricity, and more electricity generation from wind and solar plants.

Understanding how greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts are affected by these changes requires an understanding of the full life cycle of energy production and use. For example, tailpipe emissions are reduced when using an electric vehicle rather than a conventional gasoline-fueled vehicle, but more electricity is generated, which increases power plant emissions.

Links

Energy System-Environment (MARKAL)
Electric Sector Technologies and Air Quality
Technology Assessments