The Cost Revolution
| Technology | Cost Advantage | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Solar PV | 41% cheaper than fossil | 91% of new projects cheaper |
| Onshore wind | 53% cheaper than fossil | Record deployment |
| Battery storage | Down 93% in a decade | $2,571 → $192/kWh |
| Jobs per dollar | Renewables create 3x more | vs fossil fuel investment |
Renewable Deployment Records (2024)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| New renewable capacity | 585 GW |
| Share of new power capacity | 92.5% |
| Global electricity from renewables | 32% |
| Solar and wind growth vs demand (Q1–Q3 2025) | 635 TWh vs 603 TWh |
| Clean energy investment (2024) | $2 trillion |
| EU wind + solar share (2025) | 30% (surpassed fossil fuels) |
Climate Litigation
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total cases filed | 3,099 across 55 jurisdictions |
| New cases in 2024 | 226 |
| Global South share (since 2020) | 59% |
| Bonaire ruling (2026) | Netherlands violated human rights |
| Swiss Climate Case (2024) | Climate = human rights obligation |
| Held v. Montana (2024) | First US state constitutional climate right |
| ICJ Advisory Opinion (2025) | 1.5°C as legally binding target |
The Gap
Current policies put us on track for ~2.8°C by 2100. Current NDCs target 52–58 Gt in 2030, but 1.5°C requires 25–30 Gt. The US withdrew from the Paris Agreement in January 2026. But China invested $625 billion in clean energy in 2024 alone.
Conservation Victories
The High Seas Treaty entered force January 2026. French Polynesia created the world’s largest MPA. Melanesia established a 6-million-km² reserve. Green sea turtles were upgraded from Endangered. Brazil saw an 80% decline in deforestation fires.
Indigenous-Led Conservation
Research shows Indigenous-led programs match or exceed non-indigenous outcomes when properly funded. Canada committed $202 million to 94 communities. The NWT reached a $380 million landmark agreement. The Klinse-Za caribou herd grew from 38 animals (2013) to 200+ (2023).
Sources
- Ember European Electricity Review 2026
- IEA Renewables 2025
- IRENA Renewable Energy Statistics
- IRENA — 91% Cheaper Than Fossil
- UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025
- LSE Grantham — Global Trends 2025
- UNEP — Climate Litigation
- Greenpeace — Bonaire Ruling
- Concordia — Indigenous Conservation
- UN News — High Seas Treaty