The surprising countries pulling off stunningly fast clean energy transitions

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🗞️ Driving the news: A clean energy revolution is unfolding in countries worldwide, with surprising nations leading the charge in rapidly transitioning to renewable sources like wind and solar
• While the fight against climate change continues to face obstacles, this shift to clean energy, particularly in regions like South America, Asia, and the Middle East, offers a hopeful glimpse into the future

🔭 The context: In the first half of 2025, global renewables surpassed coal as the leading source of electricity, a key milestone in decarbonizing the energy sector
• Countries like China, India, and the US are at the forefront, though their reliance on fossil fuels remains significant
• Smaller nations are also seeing rapid progress, spurred by lower costs of renewable energy technologies and investments from global players

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This clean energy boom has massive implications for global sustainability
• It highlights how nations, particularly in the global south, can skip traditional, polluting energy phases and leap directly into renewables
• This shift could drastically reduce emissions and help mitigate the worst effects of climate change
• For example, Pakistan has achieved a 30% share of solar power in just six years, signaling a fast-tracked transition in developing countries

⏭️ What's next: Despite this progress, experts stress that the energy sector still faces challenges, such as integrating renewables with storage solutions like batteries
• The expansion of renewable energy needs to match the growing energy demand, especially in developing economies
• As countries continue to invest in solar and wind, they must also innovate in storage and grid connectivity to ensure reliability and further reduce emissions

💬 One quote: “You cannot stop it now,” says Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember, on the unstoppable rise of renewables in developing countries

📈 One stat: Pakistan’s solar share has surged from zero to 30% of its electricity in just six years, marking one of the fastest transitions globally

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of industry players like NextEra Energy, Vestas, and Ørsted

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