You’ve likely heard the future is electric. Out with the gas furnaces and water heaters. In with the electric vehicles and induction stoves. You’ve likely also heard that we have to ditch fossil fuels for renewable energy, ASAP.

Together, these processes—electrification and clean energy development—make up the two components of decarbonization. It’s a mouthful of a word that means reducing or eliminating the carbon emissions from a given technology or sector. And we have to decarbonize just about everything—transportation, buildings, the energy grid—if we want any shot at keeping global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. One look at the recent flooding in California reminds us just how critical this is.

But all of this brings up good questions, including a few that some of you have written in to ask us directly. Specifically, should we wait to get more of our power from renewable energy sources before we plug everything in? And do we risk unintentionally increasing emissions if we electrify too soon? We break down the answers below.

First, electrification is a slow-moving process

It’s also a complicated one: It has to happen across numerous sectors, from buildings to transportation, which are all evolving at different rates. Electrifying as we develop more clean energy is the only way we’ll hit net-zero emissions by 2050. So, for example, when people buy cars or home appliances that run on fossil fuels, they lock into that technology for years to come. That’s why we should opt for efficient and electric versions as soon as the opportunity presents itself—like when they break or when you move—so we can take advantage of a product’s natural replacement cycle.

But clean energy development is faster

Meanwhile, renewables are growing at a breakneck pace. They already generate 20 percent of the nation’s electricity. Wind and solar generation are also expected to double by 2030. This means that a fully clean energy grid is not generations away. It’ll likely be here before your next car is out of commission. We should all be preparing for that now.

So don’t hesitate to buy an electric vehicle even if your electricity still comes from fossil fuels

Driving an electric vehicle is already the better climate choice. And on average, replacing your gas-powered car with an EV in the United States will slash carbon pollution by about two-thirds when calculated over the car’s life span—even when accounting for the grid’s current makeup and the emissions from vehicle and battery production. As renewable energy production ramps up over time, EVs will become even cleaner.

Same goes for your home appliances

Electric heat pumps installed today will still reduce heating-related climate emissions in every region of the country when you look at the life of the appliance. In considering the projected exponential growth of renewables, you’re nearly guaranteed to save emissions for the other home electrification projects you take on today. Of course, there’s no need to rip out perfectly good appliances. Just lean into the natural replacement cycle we mentioned above and check out these financial incentives as you prep.

On a final note: Equity has to be baked into decarbonization at every step of the way

Focusing on energy efficiency, as we discussed last week, is a big piece of the equity puzzle. It reduces overall energy consumption so that, while we electrify, we don’t increase air pollution from power plants that are more likely to sit in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. And, just as important, the most impacted communities need seats at the table as state and local policymakers devise and implement new electrification standards.

Check out our guide to learn more about how you can help speed up the process of decarbonization.

NRDC @ Sundance Film Festival: representing our climate-altered world on-screen

Join us for a virtual conversation about the opportunities and challenges of climate representation across genres, as well as the potential of storytelling to shift cultural narratives and inspire action.

Franklin Leonard, the founder and CEO of the Black List, will be in conversation with the writer, professor, and social commentator Roxane Gay.

• Date: January 24 at 2 p.m. ET
• Register: RSVP for the free virtual event here.

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