The movement for clean energy just set another record. The world added 582 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity in 2024, the biggest increase in a single year in history. Solar panels popped up on rooftops and in deserts. The number of wind turbines grew along ridges and coastlines. Battery storage systems came online at record speeds.
It sounds like a win. And in many ways, it is. But here's the sad truth: we're still losing the battle against climate change.
The International Renewable Energy Agency released a new report this week that has both good and bad news. Yes, renewable energy sources are growing faster than ever. Unfortunately, it's too slow to keep the temperature from rising above the dangerous 1.5°C level.
The Numbers Tell Two stories:
Let's look at what 582 gigawatts really means. That's enough power to run about 100 million homes in the US. It is 15.1% higher than in 2023, which is the biggest growth rate in the past 20 years. Renewable energy now makes up 46% of the world's installed power capacity, up from only 30% ten years ago.
Solar energy was the biggest contributor, adding 452 gigawatts in 2024 alone—more than three-quarters of all new renewable capacity. Wind added another 113 gigawatts. These are huge, real-world projects. They're giant projects that are changing whole landscapes and energy grids.
The cost story makes the phenomenon even more amazing. In most markets, solar and wind energy are now cheaper than fossil fuels. In many places, it costs less to build new renewable energy plants than to run old coal and gas plants. There is no longer any doubt that clean energy is good for the economy.
But this is where the fun ends. At the UN Climate Conference in Dubai in 2023, countries promised to increase the world's renewable energy capacity to 11.2 terawatts by 2030. That big goal means we need to add 1,122 gigawatts every year, which is almost twice what we did in 2024.
Perform the necessary calculations. In our best year ever, we added 582 gigawatts. We need 1,122 gigawatts every year for the next six years. There is a 93% difference between how fast we are going now and how fast we need to be going.
Why is the window closing?
António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN, didn't hold back in his response to the report. He agreed that "the clean energy revolution is unstoppable." " Renewables are being used more quickly and cheaply than fossil fuels, which creates jobs, growth, and cheap power. But the time to keep the 1.5°C limit in sight is running out quickly. 
That number of 1.5°C is important. It's not random. Scientists call it the tipping point, where climate effects get much worse, like more extreme weather, rising sea levels that threaten coastal cities, ecosystems that are falling apart, and food systems that are not working properly. Currently, we're 1.3°C higher than before the Industrial Revolution. There is almost no room for error left.
If renewable energy growth keeps going at the same rate as it did in 2024, which was rapid, the world will only reach 10.3 terawatts by 2030. That's 900 gigawatts less than the goal, which means millions of tons more carbon emissions and faster warming.
Where Inequality Happens
The report shows another worrying trend: the growth of renewable energy is still mostly happening in rich countries and new economic powers. Asia made up 71% of new capacity in 2024, and China, the US, and the EU together made up 83.6% of all new capacity.
Africa, on the other hand, only added 4.7 gigawatts, even though it has 1.4 billion people and a lot of renewable energy potential. That's not even 1% of the total for the whole world. Small island developing states, which are already feeling the effects of climate change, only make up 0.2% of the world's renewable energy capacity.
This isn't just unfair; it's also short-sighted from a strategic perspective. Countries with the fewest renewable resources often have the most renewable resources. Most of Europe doesn't receive as much sun as Sub-Saharan Africa does per square mile. Island nations rely on consistent trade winds. But capital flows still stubbornly go to markets that are already developed.
What's Stopping Us
If renewable energy is cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels, why aren't we building it faster? The problems aren't with technology; they're with the system.
First, the electricity grids weren't built to work with renewable energy. They were made for coal and gas plants that are always running. To add variable sources like solar and wind, we need to make significant changes to our infrastructure, like building new transmission lines, smart grid technology, and battery storage on a grid scale. These investments cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
Second, supply chains are still limited. The ability to make solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries has grown considerably, but it still can't keep up with demand. Making and processing important minerals for batteries, such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, is not easy.
Third, there still isn't enough money, especially in developing countries. The report asserts the need for "major increases in investment" to finance grid modernization, supply chain expansion, and the development of clean technology. Wealthy countries promised to help poorer countries switch to clean energy, but the money that actually flows doesn't always match those promises.
Fourth, the political will to take action can fluctuate. Even though scientists agree and the economy makes sense, fossil fuel interests still have a lot of power over policy in many countries. In most countries, subsidies for oil, gas, and coal are much bigger than those for renewable energy. While wind and solar projects may require years to receive approval, fossil fuel projects typically face fewer obstacles.
Guterres asserted that we cannot halt the clean energy revolution. But "unstoppable" doesn't mean "fast enough." The question isn't if we'll switch to renewable energy; the economics make sure we will in the end. The question is if we'll do it quickly enough to stop the terrible warming.
To reach the 2030 goal, several changes need to happen at the same time. Investment needs to speed up a lot, especially in developing countries. The grid's infrastructure needs to be updated right away. The supply chains for important parts and materials need to grow. Policy frameworks need to actively favor renewable energy sources over fossil fuels, not just keep things the way they are now, where fossil fuels are preferred.
The technology is there. The economics are sound. There isn't enough political and financial will to put solutions into place at the right scale and speed.
In November, Brazil's Belém, deep in the Amazon, will host the next UN Climate Conference (COP30). That meeting is another chance for countries to make stronger promises and, more importantly, turn those promises into real actions.
The numbers from 2024 show that we can quickly build renewable energy when we want to. The goal for 2030 shows that we're not working hard enough yet. The main climate challenge of our time is somewhere between those two facts.
Guterres warned that the window is closing. But it hasn't shut yet. We will only make it through if we treat the next six years with the urgency they need. This means not treating them like business as usual with a few greener edges, but like the all-hands-on-deck mobilization that a livable future needs.
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