Taking the Win
Renewable energy prevented 230 million tonnes of carbon emissions by stopping new growth in coal and fossil gas. We still need to push farther, faster. But it's okay to take the win.
In a year of non-stop climate disasters, brutal war, and cascading climate despair, a report this week shows that the hard work to drive down emissions is gaining ground.
Analysis by the UK-based Ember climate think tank concludes that wind, solar, and hydropower prevented any growth in coal- or gas-powered electricity production around the world in the first half of 2022.
Without renewables, Ember says in a release, fossil-fired generation would have grown 4% in just six months. Replacing those projects with clean renewables prevented 230 million tonnes of carbon pollution and saved countries US$40 billion in fuel costs.
It still isn’t the depth or speed of emission reductions that we need. But against the huge scale and entrenched interests of the fossil industry and other big carbon polluters, this is what a win looks like.