Renewables 2021 Global Status Report

This September, ISES is happy to once again welcome REN21 to introduce their annual Renewables 2021 Global Status Report. The GSR is REN21’s longstanding publication that tracks worldwide trends and developments in renewable energy policy, markets and industries, energy access and contemporary issues, including system integration of renewables.
 

The year 2020 was one of new norms and growing ambition. The total number of national targets for achieving net zero emissions covered countries responsible for more than 80% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The public consensus increasingly reflects the emerging vision to move beyond fossil fuels, which are responsible for nearly 90% of CO2 emissions. Under pressure from citizens, civil society and the courts, countries are being forced to strengthen their own climate plans, while fossil fuel companies are losing legal and shareholder battles. At the same time, businesses are buying ever larger amounts of renewable energy. 
 
Despite this new attention, the world has seen only a slow increase in the share of renewable energy in final energy demand. At the same time, the world is burning more fossil fuels than ever. Since 2009, the share of fossil fuels in final energy consumption has remained the same, and global energy demand has expanded around 20%. Join REN21's Duncan Gibb to explore what is holding renewable energy back, and how renewables (including solar energy) can be used as a key performance indicator in all economic activities.