ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – AN OVERVIEW

Renewable technologies offer sustainable energy solutions that minimize environmentalimpacts, reduce waste, and support future generations. By harnessing the sun, a primary energysource, renewable forms like biomass and wind energy become viable alternatives to traditionalenergy sources. These technologies play a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissionsand combating global warming. This article explores various methods of CO2 mitigation,including solar cookers, water heaters, dryers, biofuels, improved cook stoves, and hydrogen.Long-term strategies for sustainable development are necessary to address currentenvironmental challenges. Renewable energy resources, closely linked to sustainabledevelopment, provide efficient and effective solutions. The paper discusses future energy usepatterns, environmental impacts such as acid precipitation, ozone depletion, and the greenhouseeffect, identifying renewable technologies as potential solutions. It also examines therelationship between renewable energy and sustainable development through case studies andpractical examples. The study's findings and recommendations are intended to guide energyscientists, engineers, and policymakers. Climate change, primarily driven by greenhouse gasemissions from fossil fuel combustion, impacts health through various pathways, includingincreased heat waves, altered disease distribution, and greater risks of natural disasters andmalnutrition. While low-income countries are especially vulnerable, high-income countries arenot immune, as demonstrated by the 2003 European heat wave. Adapting to climate changerequires public health strategies and improved surveillance. Reducing fossil fuel use andexpanding renewable energy technologies can mitigate climate change and enhance health bydecreasing air pollution exposure.