The Worst Kept Secret: 100% Renewable Energy Can Be a Game Changer

If governments are serious about keeping temperature increases to 1.5°C, the next step is obvious: scale up levels of ambition on energy transition. There is no time left to delay embarking on a just transition to limit irreversible and disastrous climate damages. Observed atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue skyrocketing — bad news indeed.

There are no two ways about the science. To limit temperature increases to 1.5°C, we need to have a carbon free energy sector by mid-century, if not earlier. If we continue emitting over 50Gt per year, that means significantly less than 20 years remaining of the carbon emissions budget.

The transition to 100% renewable energy over the coming decades is the single most critical move that needs to occur. To do this, we need to increase the rate at which we are shifting trillions away from subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear, and towards investing in the renewables transition. There is no turning back.