Quiet Wins: Entering 2026 with Climate Momentum

2025 was the tipping point. From renewables overtaking coal to the historic High Seas Treaty entering force in 2026, we look at the data driving our optimistic outlook.

We are just starting 2026, but the foundation for this year's progress was cemented by the quiet victories of the last twelve months. The data confirms that the tipping point has passed: the green transition is no longer a prediction; it is our reality.

1. Energy: The End of the Coal Era

In a historic shift, renewable energy officially overtook coal as the world's largest source of electricity in the first half of 2025. This wasn't just a blip; it was the result of a massive, sustained surge in clean energy capacity as reported by the IEA.

• Global Tipping Point: According to Ember's Global Electricity Review, solar and wind energy met 100% of the world's new electricity demand in 2025.
• Capacity Boom: The world added over 520 gigawatts of new renewable capacity last year, with investment in clean energy hitting an all-time high of $2.2 trillion.
• Regional Leaders:
  • China: Shattered records by installing 93 GW of solar in just one month (May 2025), bringing its total to over 1,000 GW.
  • USA: Renewables generated more electricity than fossil fuels for the first time in March 2025.
  • EU: Solar power alone generated more electricity than fossil fuels across the bloc in May.

USA: Policy Headwinds vs. Market Momentum

In the United States, the energy conversation has become a central political battleground. The Trump administration has moved aggressively to reinstatement oil and gas as the primary focus of national energy policy, pausing new offshore wind permits and signaling potential rollbacks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

Despite this clear political shift to "drill, baby, drill," the market is telling a different story—one that suggests the green transition is now irreversible:

• Economics Win: In 2025, 91% of new renewable projects were cheaper than the cheapest fossil fuel alternatives.
• Irreversible Growth: Even with federal headwinds, US solar capacity is projected to grow by 33% in 2025 alone.
• Red State Boom: The majority of new clean energy investment continues to flow into Republican-led states like Texas, where wind and solar are essentially keeping the grid afloat during extreme weather.
• Corporate Demand: US tech giants and major corporations are demanding clean power for data centers at a scale that fossil fuels simply cannot match on speed or price.

As BloombergNEF noted in their 2025 Energy Outlook: "Policy can slow the transition, but price has already won."

The Battery Storage Breakthrough

The renewable boom is being unlocked by rapid advances in storage. 2025 saw lithium-ion battery pack prices dip below $100/kWh, a critical threshold for cost competitiveness. Furthermore, solid-state batteries began moving from labs to commercial pilots with automakers like Mercedes and MG, promising safer, longer-lasting energy storage.

2. Nature: Oceans and Amazon on the Mend

The climate fight isn't just about carbon; it's about life. 2025 and early 2026 have delivered historic wins for biodiversity.

• High Seas Treaty: In January 2026, the historic UN High Seas Treaty officially entered into force after Morocco became the 60th nation to ratify it in late 2025. This treaty provides the legal framework to protect marine life in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean.
• Amazon Deforestation: Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 11% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching their lowest level in over a decade.
• Species Recovery:
  • Green Sea Turtles: Reclassified from "Endangered" to "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List following successful global conservation efforts.
  • Tigers: Populations in India and Nepal have effectively doubled since 2010.
  • Jaguars: Mexico reported a 30% increase in its jaguar population.

3. Justice & Policy: A Historic Health Victory

Brazil starts 2026 as a beacon of public health success. The country was validated by the World Health Organization for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This milestone ensures that thousands of babies born this year will be free of the virus, a testament to decades of persistent, equitable healthcare policy.

Why It Matters

These stories remind us that "too late" is a narrative, not a fact. As we navigate 2026, we stand on a foundation of proven solutions. When policy, technology, and community effort align, we don't just mitigate damage—we build a better future.