Posted on October, 15 2025

In the first six months of this 2025, more electricity around the world was generated from wind and solar than by coal. This data, from energy  think tank Ember, marks a critical milestone in the race to drive fossil fuels out of the global economy and avert the growing crisis facing our climate.

This landmark was reached because growth in renewables – particularly in China and India – outpaced growth in electricity demand. With coal-fired power falling slightly, likely temporarily in India, but as part of a structural shift in China, renewables are gradually edging this most climate-damaging fuel out of the global generation mix.

This news shows how the shift to renewables is possible in practice. It demonstrates how the energy transition is becoming embedded and entrenched around the world. And it is surely only the latest stage on the unstoppable march of the clean energy revolution.

A staging post

But this is a milestone, not a destination. The Ember report finds widely varying levels of achievement between different countries and regions.  It finds the use of fossil fuels in the US and the EU continuing to grow, with devastating effects on climate and nature that should concern us all.

We are also a long way from where we need to be. At COP28, as part of the UNFCCC’s Global Stocktake process, countries collectively pledged to treble renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, according to the International Energy Agency, we are not on track. We urgently need to reach zero-carbon energy systems on the pathway to a net-zero global economy by 2050.

So, how can we ensure that renewable energy grows ever faster?

Putting the policy in place

In these uncertain geopolitical times, it’s not the technology nor the capital that’s holding us back, but rather the policies and regulations. Wind and solar, backed with battery storage, are increasingly cost-competitive. They can provide the speediest new generating capacity. Financiers are keen to support a clean energy future, but investors need certainty. This means clear, stable policy frameworks that can be relied upon for many years. 

Developers, meanwhile, need streamlined processes for impact assessments and permits. These are often instead barriers to development. And they need the physical infrastructure to enable renewable energy development. Instead, grid transmission is often a bottleneck, with current systems not designed for variable supplies, nor to carry power from areas of excellent wind or solar supply to where it is needed most.

Here, China shows the way. Since 2010, the country has built 42 long-distance high-voltage transmission lines that carry electricity generated from renewables in the west of the country to demand centres in the east. This has enabled the dramatic scale-up and reduced cost of electricity from renewables.

A just and nature-positive energy transition

However, the clean energy transition is not just a technological and economic undertaking. It will only be possible by taking account of its social impact. Just energy transitions across the globe must provide opportunities for those previously dependent on fossil fuels for employment, and affordable energy for power or for heat, so they support the change. Here, we provide a checklist to ensure that people are not left behind in the energy transition.

And it is also important that energy transitions do not come at a cost to nature. All economic development can, if poorly planned, damage ecosystems and reduce biodiversity: renewable energy is no exception. It is important that governments, developers and investors are mindful of the trade-offs involved, and do all they can to ensure the energy transition is as aligned with nature as possible.

A holistic approach to the energy transition

At WWF, we’re aiming for a holistic approach – bringing together the policy and business models that will motivate private capital and sustainable markets. We’re working to make sure that all those who need to be involved with energy transition are fully aware of the best options and the urgency for action. We offer support and guidance on how countries can work towards fossil fuel phase-out.

Only by working together, and seeing beyond short-term vested interests, can we finally bring power to all the people in a way that saves the planet.