A new report from the United Nations outlines recent progress in the global shift to renewable energy since the signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015. Developed with input from UN agencies and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the report presents data showing that renewable energy capacity is approaching parity with fossil fuels worldwide.

In 2024, the majority of newly installed power capacity came from renewable sources. Every continent added more renewable energy infrastructure than fossil fuel-based systems, and renewables generated nearly one-third of global electricity. The report identifies this trend as a key indicator of momentum in the global energy transition.

The clean energy sector also contributed significantly to global economic growth in 2023. According to the data, clean energy drove:

• 5% of GDP growth in India

• 6% in the United States

• 20% in China

• Nearly 33% in the European Union

Employment in clean energy has surpassed that of fossil fuels, with an estimated 35 million jobs worldwide in the renewable energy sector.

The report underscores the role of weather, water, and climate intelligence in ensuring the reliability of clean energy systems, particularly for solar, wind, and hydropower, which are sensitive to environmental conditions. To support this, WMO is working with governments to create high-resolution renewable energy atlases and to provide planning tools and climate services tailored to national needs.

Additional resources highlighted include annual climate-energy assessments, online training for energy professionals, and the launch of the Energy & Meteorology Portal--a global platform for knowledge sharing, planning tools, and climate risk indices related to energy systems.

Source: wmo.int