As humanity faces record-breaking temperatures and rising seas, the explosive growth of renewable energy—where solar capacity soared by 22% and wind power neared 900 GW in 2022—proves that the sustainability industry isn't just a hopeful vision but a powerful, accelerating force reshaping our global economy and energy landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Global renewable energy capacity increased by 10.3% in 2022, reaching 3,372 GW
- Solar photovoltaic capacity grew by 22% in 2022 to 1,047 GW worldwide
- Wind power capacity reached 899 GW globally by end of 2022, with onshore dominating at 830 GW
- Global CO2 emissions from energy reached 36.8 Gt in 2022, up 0.9%
- Electricity and heat production caused 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022
- Transport sector emitted 8.3 Gt CO2 in 2022
- Global plastic waste generation 353 million tonnes in 2019
- Only 9% of plastic waste globally recycled as of 2019
- 19-23 million tonnes plastic enter oceans annually
- Global sustainable investment assets USD 35.3 trillion in 2022
- ESG assets under management grew 38% to USD 17.1 trillion in US 2022
- Green bonds issued USD 518 billion globally in 2022
- Global EV sales 10.2 million units in 2022, 35% growth
- Solar panel efficiency reached 25% for commercial modules in 2023
- Green hydrogen production cost fell to USD 3-6/kg in best projects 2022
Renewable energy is booming with record growth, falling costs and soaring investments globally.
Carbon Emissions and Climate Change
1Global CO2 emissions from energy reached 36.8 Gt in 2022, up 0.9%
Verified2Electricity and heat production caused 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022
Verified3Transport sector emitted 8.3 Gt CO2 in 2022
Verified4Industry CO2 emissions at 9.9 Gt in 2022 globally
Directional5China emitted 11.9 Gt CO2 in 2022, 32% of global total
Single source6US CO2 emissions fell 0.8% to 4.7 Gt in 2022
Verified7EU CO2 emissions dropped 2.5% in 2022 to 2.6 Gt
Verified8India CO2 emissions rose 5.5% to 2.7 Gt in 2022
Verified9Global methane emissions from energy sector 135 Mt in 2022
Directional102023 was the hottest year on record with 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels
Single source11Global surface temperature anomaly 1.19°C in 2022 per NASA
Verified12Sea levels rose 101 mm since 1993, averaging 4.6 mm/year
Verified13Arctic sea ice minimum 2023 was 4.23 million sq km, 7th lowest
Verified14Antarctic sea ice hit record low 1.79 million sq km in Feb 2023
Directional15Global glacier mass loss 267 Gt/year 2000-2023
Single source16Ocean heat content increased by 436 ZJ from 1955-2022
Verified17Atmospheric CO2 concentration 419 ppm in 2023
Verified18Cumulative CO2 emissions to date 2390 GtCO2 since 1750
Verified19Net zero by 2050 requires 45 GtCO2 cumulative reductions 2020-2050
Directional201.5°C warming limit breached temporarily in 2023
Single source21Fossil CO2 emissions share 89% of energy-related GHG in 2022
Verified22Clean energy prevented 2.6 Gt CO2 emissions in 2023 vs 2007 levels
VerifiedCarbon Emissions and Climate Change Interpretation
Despite achieving record-breaking temperatures that would make a sauna blush, humanity’s global carbon addiction stubbornly persists, as progress in some regions is still being outpaced by a rising tide of emissions elsewhere.
Green Technology and Innovation
1Global EV sales 10.2 million units in 2022, 35% growth
Verified2Solar panel efficiency reached 25% for commercial modules in 2023
Verified3Green hydrogen production cost fell to USD 3-6/kg in best projects 2022
Verified4Carbon capture capacity 43 MtCO2/year operational globally 2023
Directional5Battery energy density for EVs 300 Wh/kg average 2023
Single source6Direct air capture plants 27 operational, capturing 0.01 MtCO2/year
Verified7Smart grid investments USD 140 billion globally 2022
Verified85G-enabled IoT devices for sustainability 1.4 billion by 2023
Verified9Precision agriculture market USD 7 billion 2022, AI-driven
Directional10Sustainable aviation fuel production 0.6 Mt 2023, target 17 Mt by 2030
Single source11Long-duration energy storage pilots 100+ GW potential
Verified12Blockchain for carbon credits traded 20 MtCO2e 2022
Verified133D printing reduces material waste 90% in manufacturing
Verified14AI optimizes energy use 10-40% in buildings
Directional15Lab-grown meat production scaled to 10 tons/month 2023
Single source16Nanotech water purification removes 99.99% contaminants
Verified17Offshore wind turbines 15 MW capacity prototypes 2023
Verified18Electric aircraft prototypes 20+ in development 2023
Verified19Bioplastics production 2.2 million tonnes 2022
DirectionalGreen Technology and Innovation Interpretation
While the sobering math of direct air capture and sustainable aviation fuel proves we're still taking baby steps, the explosive growth in EVs, solar, and smart grids shows we've finally learned to sprint where it counts.
Renewable Energy
1Global renewable energy capacity increased by 10.3% in 2022, reaching 3,372 GW
Verified2Solar photovoltaic capacity grew by 22% in 2022 to 1,047 GW worldwide
Verified3Wind power capacity reached 899 GW globally by end of 2022, with onshore dominating at 830 GW
Verified4Hydropower remains the largest renewable source at 1,296 GW in 2022
Directional5Bioenergy capacity stood at 150 GW in 2022 globally
Single source6China added 76 GW of renewables in 2022, more than half the global total
Verified7Europe saw 32 GW of new renewable capacity in 2022, led by solar
Verified8Renewables accounted for 82% of new power capacity added globally in 2022
Verified9Costs of solar PV fell 89% between 2010 and 2022
Directional10Onshore wind LCOE dropped 70% from 2010 to 2022
Single source11Utility-scale solar PV achieved record low LCOE of USD 0.049/kWh in 2022
Verified12Offshore wind LCOE averaged USD 0.081/kWh globally in 2022
Verified13Renewables generated 29.4% of global electricity in 2022
Verified14Global investment in renewables reached USD 495 billion in 2022
Directional15Solar investments hit USD 273 billion in 2022
Single source16Wind investments totaled USD 147 billion globally in 2022
Verified17Battery storage capacity added 36 GW globally in 2022
Verified18Green hydrogen projects reached 351 by end of 2022 with 38 GW electrolyser capacity announced
Verified19Renewables met 90% of global electricity demand growth in 2022
Directional20Floating solar capacity grew to 6 GW by 2022
Single source21Geothermal capacity stood at 15.5 GW worldwide in 2022
Verified22Concentrated solar power capacity reached 7.4 GW in 2022
Verified23India added 11.3 GW renewables in 2022
Verified24United States renewable capacity hit 389 GW by 2022
Directional25Brazil's renewables at 170 GW, mostly hydro, in 2022
Single source26Global solar PV module prices fell 31% in 2022
Verified27Offshore wind capacity grew 16% to 35 GW in 2022
Verified28Concentrating solar power added 0.7 GW in 2022
Verified29Renewables share in electricity projected to reach 35% by 2025
Directional30USD 1.7 trillion needed annually for net zero by 2030 in energy transition
Single sourceRenewable Energy Interpretation
While the fossil fuel industry clings to its last-century playbook, the renewable revolution is frankly showing off, deploying cheaper, smarter technology at a breakneck pace and now powering almost all new electricity demand, yet this sprint still needs to turn into the marathon funding required to actually win the race against climate change.
Sustainable Finance and Investments
1Global sustainable investment assets USD 35.3 trillion in 2022
Verified2ESG assets under management grew 38% to USD 17.1 trillion in US 2022
Verified3Green bonds issued USD 518 billion globally in 2022
Verified4Global sustainable funds inflows USD 510 billion in 2022 despite outflows in Q4
Directional5Corporate sustainability-linked bonds USD 150 billion issued 2022
Single source6Pension funds with ESG policies manage USD 20 trillion
Verified7BlackRock ESG funds AUM USD 570 billion end 2022
Verified8EU Taxonomy eligible assets EUR 2.3 trillion in banks 2022
Verified9Global climate tech VC investment USD 25.2 billion in 2022
Directional10Carbon market trading volume USD 851 billion in 2021, projected higher 2022
Single source11Transition bonds issued USD 69 billion in 2022
Verified12Sovereign green bonds USD 51 billion issued 2022
Verified13Impact investing market USD 1.164 trillion AUM 2022
Verified14Banks committed USD 4.1 trillion to net zero by 2050 via NZBA
Directional15Insurers managing USD 30 trillion with climate risk integration
Single source16Private equity sustainable investments USD 1.2 trillion 2022
Verified17Global sukuk market USD 851 billion outstanding 2022, growing green segment
Verified18Blended finance mobilized USD 52 billion private capital for SDGs 2018-2022
Verified19Corporate net zero commitments cover USD 68 trillion revenue
Directional20Green loans outstanding USD 100 billion 2022
Single source21VC funding for cleantech USD 44 billion in 2021, dipped in 2022
VerifiedSustainable Finance and Investments Interpretation
While the massive influx of trillions of dollars into sustainable finance suggests the money is finally taking climate risk seriously, it also raises the sobering question of whether we are building a greener future or simply a more expensive and complex version of the same old system.
Waste and Recycling
1Global plastic waste generation 353 million tonnes in 2019
Verified2Only 9% of plastic waste globally recycled as of 2019
Verified319-23 million tonnes plastic enter oceans annually
Verified4Global e-waste reached 62 million tonnes in 2022, up 82% since 2010
Directional5Only 22.3% of e-waste formally recycled in 2022
Single source6Food waste 1.05 billion tonnes/year, 19% of production
Verified7Municipal solid waste generation 2.24 billion tonnes in 2020 globally
Verified8Waste sector methane emissions 20% of global anthropogenic total
Verified9Plastic packaging 40% of total plastics produced
Directional10Global recycling rate for metals 50%, paper 58%, plastic <20%
Single source11EU recycled 50.6% municipal waste in 2021
Verified12US generated 292 million tons MSW in 2018, recycled/composted 32.1%
Verified13China banned 24 waste types imports in 2018, diverting 111 million tons globally
Verified14Organic waste 53% of global MSW in low-income countries
Directional15Hazardous waste generation 400 million tons/year globally
Single source16Battery recycling rate globally <5% for lithium-ion
Verified17Global textile waste 92 million tonnes/year, 87% landfilled/incinerated
Verified18Construction waste 40% of solid waste in Europe
Verified19Single-use plastics 50% of plastic pollution in oceans
Directional20Global circular economy material use USD 4.5 trillion potential
Single source21Waste-to-energy capacity 600 GW thermal equivalent globally
VerifiedWaste and Recycling Interpretation
We are a species of brilliant short-term convenience, architecting a world where 50% of what we build ends up as waste, 9% of our plastic finds renewal, and our oceans politely accept 23 million tonnes of it annually as a monument to our disposable genius.
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