Imagine a world powered not by ancient fossils, but by the sun, wind, and waves, and picture this: in 2022, for the first time ever, renewable energy sources like these generated more global electricity than coal, marking a historic tipping point toward a cleaner, greener future for our economy and planet.
Key Takeaways
- Global renewable energy capacity reached 3,372 GW in 2022, up 10.3% from 2021, with solar PV adding 299 GW and wind 153 GW of new capacity
- In 2023, solar PV accounted for 60% of newly added renewable capacity worldwide, totaling over 400 GW annually
- Offshore wind capacity grew by 27% in 2022 to 35 GW globally, led by China and Europe
- Global sustainable agriculture land expanded to 1.5 billion hectares by 2022, 11% of total farmland
- Organic farming area grew 20% to 76 million hectares globally in 2021, led by Australia
- Agroforestry covers 1 billion hectares worldwide, sequestering 1.5-3 GtCO2/year
- EV sales reached 10.2 million units globally in 2022, 14% of car sales
- Global EV stock surpassed 40 million by end-2022, up 65% YoY
- Two-wheelers dominated EV sales at 60% share, led by China and India
- Green buildings certified 3.5 billion sqm globally by 2022, LEED 3 billion
- Net-zero buildings stock 1% globally, but new builds 10% in 2022
- EU Energy Performance Certificates A-rated 20% residential by 2022
- Global recycling rate for municipal solid waste 20% in 2022, up from 13% 2010
- Plastic packaging recycling rate 9% globally, but EU at 42% in 2022
- E-waste generated 62 million tonnes in 2022, recycled 22%
Renewable energy rapidly expanded and overtook coal in global electricity generation.
Agriculture and Forestry
- Global sustainable agriculture land expanded to 1.5 billion hectares by 2022, 11% of total farmland
- Organic farming area grew 20% to 76 million hectares globally in 2021, led by Australia
- Agroforestry covers 1 billion hectares worldwide, sequestering 1.5-3 GtCO2/year
- Precision agriculture tech adopted on 50 million farms by 2023, boosting yields 15%
- Global sustainable fisheries production hit 90 million tonnes in 2022, 60% of capture
- Forest area under sustainable management reached 2 billion hectares by 2022
- Reforestation efforts planted 13 billion trees annually average 2016-2022
- EU organic farmland increased 5.4% to 18 million hectares in 2022
- US cover cropping expanded to 15 million acres by 2022, reducing erosion 30%
- Brazil’s Amazon soy production under no-deforestation reached 90% compliance in 2022
- Global regenerative agriculture farms number 1.5 million, covering 200 million ha
- Vertical farming market valued at $5.5 billion in 2022, projected 25% CAGR
- Insect protein production for feed reached 10,000 tonnes in 2022
- Global peatland restoration covered 500,000 ha by 2023
- Crop yield gap closed 20% via sustainable practices in developing countries 2015-2022
Agriculture and Forestry Interpretation
While we've certainly planted promising seeds—from scaling sustainable agriculture to embracing regenerative practices and precision tech—we must remember that truly nourishing a greener economy requires moving beyond impressive statistics to ensure these roots grow deep enough to feed the future without consuming the planet.
Buildings and Construction
- Green buildings certified 3.5 billion sqm globally by 2022, LEED 3 billion
- Net-zero buildings stock 1% globally, but new builds 10% in 2022
- EU Energy Performance Certificates A-rated 20% residential by 2022
- Global green retrofit investments $300 billion annually 2022
- Passive house standard 2 million units worldwide by 2023
- US ENERGY STAR certified buildings 40,000 covering 4 billion sq ft 2022
- China green building floor area 4.3 billion sqm by 2022, 70% new builds
- Modular green construction market $120 billion 2022
- Timber high-rises over 18 stories: 100+ projects by 2023
- Cool roofs adopted on 10% urban buildings, reducing cooling 20%
- Smart building IoT devices 1.5 billion by 2023
- District heating renewables 40% share in Nordic countries 2022
- Global embodied carbon reduction 30% in certified projects 2022
- Biophilic design in 15% office retrofits, boosting productivity 15%
- Zero-energy homes 500,000 in US by 2022
Buildings and Construction Interpretation
The data shows we're impressively good at building shiny new green edifices, yet we're still dawdling pathetically on the crucial, unsexy work of fixing our vast, leaky existing buildings—a truth as clear as the A-rating on only a fifth of Europe's homes.
Energy Sector
- Global renewable energy capacity reached 3,372 GW in 2022, up 10.3% from 2021, with solar PV adding 299 GW and wind 153 GW of new capacity
- In 2023, solar PV accounted for 60% of newly added renewable capacity worldwide, totaling over 400 GW annually
- Offshore wind capacity grew by 27% in 2022 to 35 GW globally, led by China and Europe
- Hydropower remains the largest renewable source at 1,296 GW in 2022, contributing 15% of global electricity
- Bioenergy capacity stood at 150 GW in 2022, with modern bioenergy providing 6% of global energy supply
- Geothermal capacity reached 15.6 GW in 2022, with 146 MW added, mainly in Indonesia and Turkey
- Concentrated solar power capacity hit 7.2 GW in 2022, up 7% from prior year
- In 2022, renewables generated 29.4% of global electricity, overtaking coal for first time
- EU renewable electricity share reached 38% in 2022, with wind and solar at 22%
- US added 14.8 GW of utility-scale solar in 2022, a 38% increase
- China installed 87.4 GW of wind power in 2022, 66% of global additions
- India’s renewable capacity crossed 175 GW by end-2022, with solar at 66 GW
- Brazil’s hydropower dominates at 110 GW, 60% of electricity in 2022
- South Africa’s renewable capacity grew to 6.5 GW solar and wind by 2022
- Australia’s rooftop solar reached 3.7 million installations by 2023, 15% household penetration
- Global green hydrogen production capacity targeted to reach 80 GW electrolysers by 2030
- Energy storage capacity added 20 GW globally in 2022, mostly batteries
- CSP costs fell 85% since 2010 to $50/MWh in best sites by 2022
- Wind LCOE averaged $0.033/kWh globally in 2022, onshore cheaper than fossil fuels
- Solar PV LCOE dropped to $0.049/kWh in 2022, 89% lower than 2010
Energy Sector Interpretation
Despite the old fossil-fueled guard's grumbling, the green revolution is not just knocking on the door but has already barged into the grid, with renewables now generating more global electricity than coal, proving that saving the planet is becoming the most cost-effective energy policy on Earth.
Green Finance and Investment
- Global green bonds issued $500 billion in 2022, 10% market share
- Sustainable investment assets $30 trillion globally end-2022
- ESG funds inflows $350 billion in 2022 despite outflows in Q4
- World Bank green bonds outstanding $15 billion by 2023
- EU Taxonomy green investments €500 billion mobilized 2022
- Corporate sustainability-linked bonds $150 billion issued 2022
- Venture capital in cleantech $45 billion 2022
- Carbon credit market traded $900 billion 2022, voluntary $2 billion
- Blended finance for green projects $20 billion annually developing countries
- Pension funds green allocation 5% average, $3 trillion total 2022
- Green loans market $100 billion syndicated 2022
- Impact investing AUM $1.2 trillion 2022
- China green finance market RMB 30 trillion by 2022
- Transition bonds issued $50 billion 2022 for high-carbon sectors
- Sovereign green sukuk $5 billion cumulative by 2023
Green Finance and Investment Interpretation
The green economy is no longer a niche market but a sprawling financial ecosystem, where the serious money is finally following the serious science, with over $30 trillion in sustainable assets proving that saving the planet is increasingly seen as a sound, rather than just a sentimental, investment.
Transport and Mobility
- EV sales reached 10.2 million units globally in 2022, 14% of car sales
- Global EV stock surpassed 40 million by end-2022, up 65% YoY
- Two-wheelers dominated EV sales at 60% share, led by China and India
- Public EV chargers grew to 3.2 million globally in 2022, China 80% share
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles reached 50,000 cumulative sales by 2023
- Global bus electrification: 1 million e-buses on roads by 2023
- Aviation sustainable fuels production hit 0.5 million tonnes in 2022
- Maritime green shipping: LNG-fueled vessels 500+ by 2023
- Bike-sharing systems in 1,800 cities worldwide, 25 million bikes
- EU rail freight modal share 18% in 2022, green targets 30% by 2030
- US EV incentives boosted sales 40% post-IRA 2022
- China NEV penetration 25% of sales in 2022
- Norway EV share 82% new cars in 2022
- Global hyperloop projects advanced 10 pilots by 2023
- E-freight trucks: 5,000 units sold 2022
- Ride-hailing EVs 10% fleet share in top cities 2023
- Green corridors shipping reduced emissions 20% on 50 routes
Transport and Mobility Interpretation
The electric revolution is undeniably charging ahead, though it’s currently pedaling harder on two wheels in Asia, getting public charging in gear thanks largely to China, and still waiting for planes, ships, and hydrogen to truly catch the bus.
Waste and Water Management
- Global recycling rate for municipal solid waste 20% in 2022, up from 13% 2010
- Plastic packaging recycling rate 9% globally, but EU at 42% in 2022
- E-waste generated 62 million tonnes in 2022, recycled 22%
- Global circular economy material use $4.5 trillion value added 2022
- Food waste recycling biogas plants process 10 million tonnes/year EU
- Tire recycling rate 85% in EU, 70% global average 2022
- Construction waste recycling 50% OECD average, Japan 97%
- Global wastewater treatment covers 55% urban population 2022
- Desalination capacity 100 million m3/day worldwide 2023
- Circular plastics economy: 20 companies commit 10 Mt recycled by 2025
- Battery recycling recovers 95% lithium from EV packs in pilot plants 2023
- Global composting capacity 200 million tonnes/year
- Zero-waste cities like San Francisco divert 80% waste from landfill 2022
- Textile recycling rate 12% global, Sweden 50% in 2022
Waste and Water Management Interpretation
The statistics on the green economy paint a picture of a planet where, despite pockets of impressive progress, humanity is still treating its resources like a rental car—we’re making a few repairs, but mostly just driving them hard and returning them in a terrible state.
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