good clean energy
The world is using more and more renewable energy. It's still not enough to save us from climate change.
The world installed a record amount of renewable energy capacity last year. It's just not enough to spare us from the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change.
Renewables research group Ren21 just released its annual report on clean energy, explaining that in 2017, the world could harness 33 percent more energy from the sun than in 2016, as well as 11 percent more energy from wind.
In other good news for the planet: More countries pledged to phase out coal power, developing countries are gaining better access to power, and investment in renewables hit a record-breaking $279.8 billion in 2017.
In some ways, this is positive. But in other ways, Ren21 warns, it's too little, too late, as this is nowhere near enough to meet the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global temperature rise.
For countries who still care about the Paris climate accords, Ren21 suggests prioritizing renewable power over electric power. After all, even with the world's focus on electric vehicles, only 3 percent of transport power comes from renewables.
Something to think about before you pat yourself on the back for buying a Tesla.