Renewable Energy as a Mitigation Strategy for Climate Change: Pathways, Challenges, and Policy Implications

Abstract

The transition of fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable energy has become a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance low-carbon development. This study examines renewable energy and its role in the climate change mitigation process by examining environmental, economic and social benefits, pathways and transitions, including policy implications in global and Indian contexts. The study followed qualitative, descriptive and systematic review methods, guided by PRISMA 2020, with secondary data from academic and institutional sources as relevant. Global electricity generation, according to the findings, shows significant growth over the period of 2015 to 2025. Among the renewable sources, hydropower takes the largest share with 4,434.97 TWh in 2025, indicating expansion from 3,882.13TWh from 2015. Solar and wind also experienced rapid expansion, producing 2,778.64 TWh and 2, 713.14 TWh in 2015 from 256.01 TWh and 829.08 TWh in 2015 respectively. The results indicate that the total capacity of renewable energy has increased from 81.31 GW in 2014–15 to 220.10 GW in 2024–25 in India. Solar energy was the largest component with a total of 66.78 GW and the highest CAGR of 38.77% compared to 7.92% for wind, 2.60% for bioenergy and 2.31% for small hydropower. The study further demonstrates the potential of renewable energy in GHG reduction, energy security, job creation, economic development, public health and sustainable environment management. Intermittency, high initial investment costs, inadequate grid infrastructure, policy uncertainty and technological limitations, however, remain as significant barriers. Therefore, the present study gives importance to stable policies, financial incentives, grid modernisation, energy storage, technological innovation, international cooperation and institutional capacity-building as essential measures for accelerating a resilient, low-carbon and sustainable energy transition.