A recent report by climate think tank Ember revealed that clean electricity has helped slow down the growth of fossil fuels by almost two-thirds over the past decade. From just 19 per cent of electricity in 2000, renewables now account for more than 30 per cent of global electricity production.    

Other reports also suggest that the world is quickly stepping towards a reduction in fossil fuel generation, despite a continual rise in overall electricity demand.    

“Solar, in particular, is accelerating faster than anyone thought possible,” said Dave Jones, Ember’s director of global insights.  

Solar energy continued to lead new electricity generation in 2023, doubling the amount of new electricity generation produced by coal and marking the 19th consecutive year of solar being the fastest-growing electricity source. 

Covering data from 80 countries representing 92 per cent of global electricity demand, the report by Ember predicted a two per cent decrease in global fossil fuel generation in the coming year due to the surge in clean electricity. According to Jones, a decline in power sector emissions is now inevitable, with 2023 potentially marking the peak of emissions in this sector. 

While the transition to renewables is strong, fossil fuels still play a major role in other sectors like transport, heavy industry, and heating. Last year, fossil fuels accounted for 82 per cent of the world's primary energy.    

To combat climate change, world leaders are targeting renewables to make up 60 per cent of global electricity by 2030. This ambitious goal, agreed upon at the UN's COP28 climate change conference, requires countries to triple their current renewable electricity capacity within the next six years. This leap would halve power sector emissions, signalling a brighter future for our planet. 

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