Transition Towards a Renewable and Carbon-Free Future within Global Warming

Global warming has led to severe environmental, biodiversity, and socioeconomic issues, necessitating a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy (RE) sources to mitigate carbon emissions and aim for a zero-carbon economy. However, achieving a carbon-free economy and controlling global warming remains challenging, particularly due to the lack of understanding of the current state and future RE development. This research aims to (1) analyze the shifts in the adoption of renewable energy (RE) compared to fossil fuels across the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Canada, and China; (2) investigate the linkages between RE usage, temperature anomalies, and economic growth (GDP); and (3) develop strategic plans for transitioning to a zero-carbon economy and addressing climate change. Using annual data on energy consumption, temperature, and GDP during the past four decades, the study employs statistical analysis, along with the Pearson's correlation analysis and multivariate modeling to assess these relationships. The results reveal a consistent upward trend in RE usage and an increasing RE-to-fossil fuels ratio over the past four decades. Additionally, all five countries exhibit either exponential or linear growth trends in both GDP and RE consumption. The statistical analysis indicates a strong positive relationship between RE usage and GDP in all studied countries. Notably, in China, the simultaneous growth of both RE and fossil fuels results in a significant positive correlation between these two energy sources. Each country offers unique insights into the development of renewable energy, providing valuable data for further research. This study sheds light on the understanding of how strategic planning for optimized RE utilization can help ensure that global temperature rise remains below 1.5°C and support the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050.