London – September 07, 2026 -- Global clean energy investment reached a record $2.1 trillion in 2025, yet global greenhouse gas emissions are merely plateauing rather than falling, according to the Energy Transitions Commission's (ETC) Energy Transition Monitor 2026. The world has already breached 1.5°C of global heating and remains on track for roughly 2.5°C.
Renewables supplied 99% of new electricity generation growth in 2025
Coal-fired and oil-fired generation both contracted last year as global renewable capacity nearly doubled since 2022, putting it on track to double again by 2030 -- still around 900 GW short of the tripling pledge made at COP28. Because electricity accounts for only a fifth of total final energy use, this surge covered just 40% of the rise in global energy demand, with fossil fuels supplying the remainder as data centres, cooling needs and heavy industry pushed overall consumption higher.
Clean electrification could abate 60% of global emissions at little extra cost
Power generation and road transport are decarbonizing rapidly through electrification with minimal cost premiums. Grid bottlenecks remain the primary obstacle: 375 GW of renewables and 455 GW of battery storage sit stuck in European connection and permitting queues, roughly 2,300 GW await grid connection in the United States, and nearly 10% of China's wind and solar output was curtailed in the first half of 2026 due to grid constraints.
Fewer than 20% of clean industrial projects have reached final investment decision
The remaining 40% of emissions -- from aviation, shipping, heavy industry and agriculture -- require solutions carrying a green cost premium or still at early commercial stages. Of roughly 1,000 clean industrial projects announced globally, fewer than 20% have secured final investment decisions, with firm offtake commitments identified as the major remaining gap despite strengthening carbon pricing.
Coal, methane, deforestation and carbon removal remain largely unaddressed
"Clean energy is now outpacing fossil growth, but deployment speed alone won't cut emissions,