'contribute to achieve' or 'contribute to achieving'? [duplicate]

Solution 1:

Extract from https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/contribute

Don’t use a verb in the infinitive after contribute. Use the pattern contribute to doing something:

• ✗ Technology has contributed to improve our lives.
• ✓ Technology has contributed to improving our lives.
• ✗ A positive aspect of education is that it contributes to confirm one’s identity.
• ✓ A positive aspect of education is that it contributes to confirming one’s identity.

You can also use the pattern contribute to something: Technology has contributed to improvements in our lives.

Solution 2:

I read these differently:

1. "Renewable energy sources can contribute to (= towards [someone's]) achieving the climate goals"

2. "Renewable energy sources can contribute to (=in order to) achieve the climate goals"

The second sounds awkward.

Solution 3:

You find both forms, both are correct; however, the participial phrase is much more common (ngram). It might be said that it is found to be more expressive. Nevertheless, there is no difference in meaning, as far as I can tell.