The process of converting the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity directly creates no forms of pollution or CO2 emissions. But if one takes the whole life cycle of wind turbines into consideration, the manufacturing, transport and disposal of wind turbines do have quantifiable environmental impacts. If the current growth rates of wind energy are maintained in the future, as forecasted by various projections, it becomes crucial to understand and quantify the full extent of wind energy’s impact on the climate, especially for those countries which already have relatively low carbon emissions per kWh or possess great wind resources. Only by quantifying the environmental impact of wind energy throughout the entire life cycle will we be able to evaluate the true potential of wind energy to mitigate climate change. This study thus aims to analyze the environmental impact of wind energy with respect to CO2 emissions, considering the whole life cycle of wind power plants.