<p>The centuries-long atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases and the concomitant contemporary climate crisis are unequivocally human-induced. Conscientious human countermeasures are, therefore, needed to address this situation and usher in long-term sustainability. Transitioning to renewable energy sources is currently one of the major policy efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide. Thus, it is necessary to ask: is this solution sufficient? Based on a thorough consultation with the existing literature, including our own work, we argue that widespread adoption of renewable energy sources can contribute to reducing carbon emissions, but this strategy has additional risks and is hardly sufficient, given the scope and scale of social changes necessary to adequately address the crisis. In addition, there are non-ignorable negative social and environmental consequences related to renewable energy transition, which must also be addressed as part of policy and social change. These include such social problems as exacerbation of inequality within and between countries and disproportionalities in exposure to renewable energy-related environmental problems, and such environmental problems as disruption of riverine ecosystems from river damming and pollution related to lithium mining and processing. These consequences affect communities and environments across the world.</p>