**Global Clean Energy Surge Reaches 40%, Yet Emissions Climb to New Highs**

While renewable sources like solar grow rapidly, fossil fuel consumption rises due to increased demand driven by extreme weather conditions.

In a significant milestone, a recent report from the Ember think-tank reveals that clean energy has surged to generate over 40% of the world's electricity in 2024. This rise in the utilization of renewable sources comes despite an alarming spike in global carbon dioxide emissions, which have reached record levels due to soaring energy demands prompted by severe weather episodes.

Phil Macdonald, managing director of Ember, highlights solar power as the backbone of this energy transition, noting its rapid expansion—electricity generation from solar panels has been doubling every three years since 2012. With more than half of the global solar growth in 2024 attributed to China, it remains the fastest-growing electricity source worldwide. In parallel, India also doubled its solar capacity over the same timeframe, showcasing the global momentum toward clean energy.

Despite significant headway in renewables, the overall share contributed by solar remains relatively modest, generating just under 7% of the world's electricity, akin to the energy consumption of the entire nation of India. Other clean energy sources are also making gains, with wind providing just over 8% and hydropower still the largest contributor at 14%. However, both hydroelectric and nuclear power are advancing at a much slower pace compared to wind and solar energy.

Historical context shows that this is the first time since the 1940s that clean energy's contribution has exceeded 40% of global generation. However, soaring electricity demand continues to outpace renewable growth. According to Ember, there was a 4% increase in global electricity demand for 2024, exacerbated by greater reliance on air conditioning during unusually hot weather. Consequently, fossil fuel generation—mainly from coal and natural gas—rose by 1.4%. The net result was a striking increase in global CO2 emissions, which hit an unprecedented 14.6 billion tonnes.

In summary, while clean energy's share of electricity generation has seen encouraging growth, the ongoing rise in consumption of fossil fuels in rapidly developing nations underscores the complexity of the global energy transition, reinforcing the urgent need for sustainable solutions to curb greenhouse gas emissions.