Most scientists believe that reducing coal power generation, which produces about twice as much carbon dioxide as gas generation, is essential to achieving global climate goals. Between January and June, renewable energy sources like solar and wind generated 5,072 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity worldwide, more than coal’s 4,896 TWh, according to Ember. “We are witnessing the initial indications of a significant turning point,” stated Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Ember’s senior electrical analyst. “Wind and solar energy are now expanding quickly enough to satisfy the world’s expanding demand for electricity.”
The first half of 2025 had a 2.6% rise in global electricity demand, or 369 TWh, over the same period in 2024. This increase was more than offset by a 306 TWh increase in solar power and a 97 TWh increase in wind power output. China and India played a major role in the transition to renewable energy. According to the Ember report, China, the largest electricity consumer in the world, decreased its use of fossil fuels by 2% while increasing its use of solar and wind power by 43% and 16%, respectively. According to the report, India was able to lower its usage of coal and gas by 3.1% thanks to gains in wind and solar power of 29% and 31%, respectively.
However, during the same time period, fossil fuel generation increased in the US and the EU as a result of increased reliance on coal and gas due to stronger demand growth and lower output from wind and hydropower. According to the report, gas-fired power generation increased by 14% and coal by 1.1% in Europe, while coal generation increased by 17% and gas generation decreased by 3.9% in the United States. Sceptical of climate change, U.S. President Donald Trump signed executive orders earlier this year to increase coal output and last month promised to promote coal-fired power facilities.
