Imagine a world where over 3,372 gigawatts of clean energy now power our grids, as the green industry surges forward with solar and wind leading a historic transformation.
Key Takeaways
- Global renewable energy capacity reached 3,372 GW at the end of 2022, a 10.2% increase from 2021
- Solar PV accounted for 73% of new renewable capacity additions in 2022 with 269 GW installed worldwide
- Wind power capacity grew by 9% in 2022, adding 77 GW to reach 899 GW globally
- Global EV sales reached 14 million in 2023, up 35% YoY
- Electric car stock surpassed 40 million globally by end-2023
- China sold 8.1 million EVs in 2023, 60% of global sales
- Global organic farmland reached 96 million hectares in 2022, up 2.2%
- Organic agriculture occupies 1.9% of global farmland but yields 20-40% higher resilience
- EU organic area grew to 18 million ha in 2022, 10% of farmland
- Global municipal solid waste generation reached 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023
- Recycling rate for plastics globally at 9% in 2022
- EU recycled 50% of municipal waste in 2022
- Global green building floor area exceeded 50 billion m² by 2023
- LEED-certified buildings in US total 3 billion ft² in 2023
- Global green building market valued at $500 billion in 2023, up 11%
Renewable energy is rapidly growing worldwide, making clean electricity more affordable and common.
Electric Vehicles and Green Transport
- Global EV sales reached 14 million in 2023, up 35% YoY
- Electric car stock surpassed 40 million globally by end-2023
- China sold 8.1 million EVs in 2023, 60% of global sales
- Europe EV sales hit 2.4 million in 2023, 20% market share
- US EV sales reached 1.4 million in 2023, 10% of new car sales
- Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) grew to 70% of EV sales in 2023 globally
- Public EV chargers worldwide reached 4 million by 2023, up 40%
- Fast chargers (>50kW) made up 15% of global stock in 2023
- Two-wheelers EVs sales hit 10 million in 2023, led by Asia
- Electric bus fleet exceeded 1 million globally in 2023
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles reached 70,000 stock in 2023
- Aviation sustainable fuels (SAF) production hit 600,000 tons in 2023, up 200%
- Global shipping biofuel use was 4.6 million tons in 2023
- Electric truck sales grew 30% to 170,000 in 2023
- Rail electrification covers 30% of global km in 2023
- Cycling infrastructure expanded 25% in EU cities 2019-2023
- Car-sharing fleets included 20% EVs by 2023 in major cities
- Ride-hailing EVs reached 5% of trips in US 2023
- Global battery production capacity hit 1.5 TWh in 2023
- LFP batteries captured 40% of EV market in 2023
- Wireless EV charging pilots deployed at 20 sites globally 2023
- V2G technology tested in 50 projects worldwide by 2023
- E-fuels production for aviation targeted 5.5 Mt by 2030
Electric Vehicles and Green Transport Interpretation
The electric revolution is no longer idling at the curb; it's accelerating down the highway in every lane, from the 40 million EVs now on the road to the surge in electric buses and bikes, proving that sustainability is finally shifting from a boutique idea into mainstream gear.
Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency
- Global green building floor area exceeded 50 billion m² by 2023
- LEED-certified buildings in US total 3 billion ft² in 2023
- Global green building market valued at $500 billion in 2023, up 11%
- EU Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings mandatory for public since 2019, 60% compliance 2023
- Buildings consume 36% global final energy, 39% CO2 emissions
- LED lighting adoption saved 1,200 TWh globally by 2023
- Smart building tech market hit $100 billion in 2023
- Passive house standard buildings number 100,000 worldwide 2023
- Green roofs cover 2 million ha globally, reducing urban heat 4°C
- Net-zero buildings certified 5,000 by 2023 via ILFI
- Building energy codes improved efficiency 30% since 2010 globally
- Heat pumps sales doubled to 16 million units in 2023
- District heating from renewables serves 15% EU buildings
- Retrofitting saved 20% energy in 50 million EU homes by 2023
- Timber construction market grew 8% to $40 billion in 2023
- Solar-integrated facades deployed on 1 GW building capacity 2023
- Demand-controlled ventilation cuts energy 30% in commercial buildings
- Global ESCO market financed $20 billion efficiency projects 2023
- Phase-out incandescent bulbs saved $100 billion globally by 2023
- Cool roofs reflect 70% sunlight, cutting cooling 20%
Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency Interpretation
This growing tide of green buildings, from passive houses to cool roofs, proves we're finally building a future that's less about cranking the thermostat and more about working smarter with the planet we've got.
Renewable Energy
- Global renewable energy capacity reached 3,372 GW at the end of 2022, a 10.2% increase from 2021
- Solar PV accounted for 73% of new renewable capacity additions in 2022 with 269 GW installed worldwide
- Wind power capacity grew by 9% in 2022, adding 77 GW to reach 899 GW globally
- Hydropower remained the largest renewable source with 1,296 GW installed capacity in 2022
- Bioenergy capacity stood at 150 GW globally in 2022, supporting 10% of renewable electricity
- China led renewable capacity additions with 188 GW in 2022, 56% of global total
- Europe added 56 GW of renewables in 2022, with solar leading at 40 GW
- Renewables generated 29.2% of global electricity in 2022, up from 28.9% in 2021
- Offshore wind capacity reached 35 GW in 2022, with 7.5 GW added that year
- Concentrated solar power capacity was 7.6 GW globally in 2022, mainly in Spain and China
- Geothermal capacity totaled 15.6 GW worldwide in 2022, with Indonesia leading
- Global investment in renewables hit $495 billion in 2022
- Utility-scale solar costs fell 89% since 2010, averaging $0.049/kWh in 2022
- Onshore wind LCOE dropped to $0.033/kWh in 2022, down 70% since 2009
- Renewables will supply 90% of electricity growth to 2027 per IEA
- Floating solar capacity exceeded 5 GW by end-2022
- Green hydrogen production costs projected to fall 60% by 2030
- US renewable capacity hit 389 GW in 2023
- India added 11.2 GW renewables in FY2023, led by solar 9.4 GW
- Brazil's renewable capacity was 170 GW in 2022, 85% hydro-dominated
- Germany reached 60% renewable electricity share in 2023
- Australia installed 4.5 GW solar in 2023
- Morocco's Noor Ouarzazate CSP plant produces 580 MW
- Kenya's geothermal capacity reached 953 MW in 2023, 45% of electricity
- Vietnam added 11.5 GW renewables in 2023
- Global solar module prices dropped 50% in 2023 to $0.15/W
- Wind turbine prices fell 20% in 2023 amid supply chain improvements
- Battery storage capacity added 42 GW globally in 2023
- Long-duration energy storage pilots grew 300% in 2023
- Global renewable energy capacity reached 3,372 GW at the end of 2022, a 10.2% increase from 2021
- Solar PV accounted for 73% of new renewable capacity additions in 2022 with 269 GW installed worldwide
- Wind power capacity grew by 9% in 2022, adding 77 GW to reach 899 GW globally
Renewable Energy Interpretation
While solar is clearly the engine of our energy transition, flirting shamelessly with record-breaking growth as it becomes a shockingly cheap date, the entire renewable orchestra is finally playing in harmony to power a decisive and unstoppable shift away from fossil fuels.
Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry
- Global organic farmland reached 96 million hectares in 2022, up 2.2%
- Organic agriculture occupies 1.9% of global farmland but yields 20-40% higher resilience
- EU organic area grew to 18 million ha in 2022, 10% of farmland
- US organic sales hit $67 billion in 2022, up 12%
- Regenerative agriculture adopted on 20 million ha globally by 2023
- Precision agriculture tech used on 50% of large US farms in 2023
- Cover cropping increased soil carbon by 0.3% annually on 15% US cropland
- Global agroforestry systems cover 1 billion ha, sequestering 3 Gt CO2/year
- No-till farming practiced on 180 million ha worldwide in 2022
- Vertical farming market reached $5.5 billion in 2023, up 25%
- Aquaponics production grew 15% to 200,000 tons in 2023
- Global sustainable fisheries certified area hit 20% of capture in 2023
- Forest cover increased by 420 million ha since 1990 due to restoration
- Reforestation efforts planted 20 billion trees since 2020 via Trillion Trees
- Mangrove restoration protected 1 million ha coastline by 2023
- Global peatland restoration covered 500,000 ha in 2023
- Crop yields under conservation ag up 20% vs conventional
- Biodiversity on organic farms 30% higher than conventional
- Global sales of biopesticides reached $6.8 billion in 2022, up 15%
- Drought-resistant crop varieties adopted on 100 million ha by 2023
Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Interpretation
Despite occupying less than 2% of farmland, organic agriculture's higher resilience, along with the significant adoption of regenerative practices and precision technology, reveals a burgeoning green revolution that is quietly but substantially re-cultivating our planet's future.
Waste Management and Recycling
- Global municipal solid waste generation reached 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023
- Recycling rate for plastics globally at 9% in 2022
- EU recycled 50% of municipal waste in 2022
- US recycled 32% of MSW in 2021, composting 23%
- Global e-waste generated 62 million tonnes in 2022, recycled 22%
- Food waste totals 1.05 billion tonnes/year globally, 19% of production
- China banned 45 waste types for import since 2021, diverting 50 Mt
- Waste-to-energy plants incinerated 450 million tonnes globally in 2022
- Mechanical biological treatment processes 10% of EU waste
- Global plastic packaging recycling rate 14% in 2023
- Landfilled waste methane emissions 20% of anthropogenic total
- Extended producer responsibility covers 33 countries for packaging
- Circular economy plastics recycling projected to save $200B by 2040
- Battery recycling recovered 95% lithium from EV packs in pilots 2023
- Global textile waste 92 million tonnes/year, recycled 1%
- Construction waste 40% of total solid waste globally
- Anaerobic digestion treats 130 million tonnes organic waste/year EU
- Deposit-return systems recover 90% beverage containers in 15 countries
- Global hazardous waste generated 400 million tonnes in 2022
- Waste sorting at source reaches 80% in South Korea
- Pyrolysis converts 2 million tonnes plastic waste to fuel annually
Waste Management and Recycling Interpretation
We've built a world of astounding waste, where some regions show us a glimmer of hope while the global reality remains a staggering and often buried mess.
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