Today in Focus

Here comes the sun! The solar energy revolution

33 snips
Oct 2, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Bill McKibben, a renowned environmentalist and author focused on climate change, shares his optimism about the clean energy revolution. He highlights surprising advances in solar, wind, and battery technologies. McKibben emphasizes the urgent need for accelerated adoption to combat rising emissions. He discusses how decentralized solar power can challenge authoritarian regimes and geopolitical dynamics. With innovative storage solutions and growing accessibility, he conveys a cautiously hopeful message about the future of renewable energy.
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INSIGHT

Economic Tipping Point For Renewables

  • We're on track to raise global temperature by about 3°C, driven mainly by burning coal, oil and gas.
  • Cheap solar and wind already crossed an economic threshold and are expanding rapidly, offering a chance to slow warming.
INSIGHT

Renewables Dominate New Capacity

  • Sun, wind and batteries accounted for about 95% of new global generating capacity recently.
  • China and surprising regions like Texas are driving huge additions, changing grid reliability and capacity dynamics.
ANECDOTE

Pakistan's Do-It-Yourself Solar Boom

  • Pakistan experienced a grassroots solar surge with many households snapping together panels and building large portions of grid-equivalent capacity.
  • Consumers adopted rooftop systems to escape soaring electricity bills and dependence on centralized supplies.
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