Final answer:
The discovery of very cheap solar power would lead to less carbon dioxide pollution because it would replace coal in electricity generation, reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the discovery of very cheap solar power were to occur, it would likely lead to less carbon dioxide pollution. This is because solar power is a form of renewable energy that produces electricity without burning fossil fuels, such as coal, which are the primary sources of carbon dioxide emissions in energy production. By replacing coal with solar power, the emissions output from electric power generation would decrease, leading to a reduction in the total amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Coal combustion not only produces a significant amount of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas associated with global warming, but also emits sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury. These substances have been linked to environmental issues such as acid rain and smog, as well as health problems.
Furthermore, increasing public opinion and regulatory pressure are pushing the shift in electricity generation from high-carbon sources like coal towards lower-carbon and renewable sources. Given that coal combustion produces nearly twice the carbon emissions of natural gas combustion and significantly more than renewable sources like solar or wind power, transitioning to these cleaner sources of energy is a key strategy in combating climate change.