Power is cleaning up

Last year, 92 percent of new energy capacity built around the world was clean and renewable. Renewable sources – solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and more – now produce about 32 percent of the world’s electricity. Add in nuclear power, which is also non-carbon emitting, and 40 percent of global power is now clean.

“The sun is now rising on a clean energy age,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last month, shifting to a more upbeat tone than usual on climate matters.

Solar is now 41 percent cheaper in lifetime costs than the cheapest fossil fuel alternative.

Global carbon emissions are still rising – 1.7 percent last year. And they are still well above the level scientists generally believe will keep the world to 1.5 degrees centigrade above preindustrial temperatures. That is the threshold over which they project the climate may change more dramatically and irreversibly. 

Sources: IRENA, IEA, Canary Media, The Guardian