As 2025 closed, renewable energy overtook coal globally and the Global South—led by India—deepened climate commitments at COP30, offsetting US retreat under Trump and building on momentum from China and Africa.
Building on the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and absence from COP30 detailed earlier this month, 2025 saw renewables surpass coal as the top electricity source worldwide, per recent data. The Global South drove much of this: India leads in meeting Paris pledges, where expanding green energy could cut air pollution, enhance resilience to extreme weather, and boost industrial edge.
At COP30 in Brazil, developing nations rejected Paris erosion, while developed countries committed to tripling adaptation finance by 2035 and new funds for southern initiatives. Yet challenges persist: Europe's grids strained from weak winds and droughts; the IEA slashed US green growth forecasts due to Trump-era curbs.
With emissions cuts urgent amid worsening weather, 2026 demands prioritized action on health, resilience, and competitiveness in frontrunners like India.