<p>Several studies have been conducted on the importance of renewable sources for maintaining and improving the quality of the environment in various aspects. However, none of them have focused on the influence of environmental and socioeconomic parameters towards the adoption of certain energy sources at the global level. Thus, this study aims to verify whether countries with measures aimed at improving the quality of the environment employ sustainable methods of electricity. For this, data from 173 countries were analyzed using cluster and principal component analysis and have yielded three main conclusions. First, countries that adopt a conservationist posture of protection of forest cover tend to use a higher percentage of renewable sources when they have a low population density. Second, developed countries with high GDP, consumption of domestic materials, and adult education tend to use a higher percentage of nonrenewable sources. Finally, on a global scale, the production of electricity from renewable sources is only representative when the sources are added up, as the isolated production percentage of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources is very small, with only hydroelectric plants having some relevant representation on a single country basis.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>