Archive · 31 Jul 2025
Renewable Energy Targets Lag Two Years After COP28 Pledge
World leaders made a promise at a big meeting (COP28) to increase the use of clean energy by a lot by 2030.
But, not much has changed since then.
Countries haven't set new goals to use more renewable energy.
Experts say we're not on track to meet the promise and that could hurt the fight against climate change.
Some countries have updated their plans, mostly in Europe, but others, like the US and Russia, haven't.
This means the world might miss an important chance to limit how much the Earth warms.
Countries pledged to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 at COP28.
National targets have seen minimal progress, increasing by only 2% since the pledge.
Current targets would result in just over double the renewable capacity installed in 2022, far short of the goal.
Most updates to 2030 targets have occurred in the European Union.
The lack of ambition could undermine climate goals.
- Who
- Countries globally, with analysis by energy think tank Ember.
- What
- Progress towards tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 is lagging.
- When
- Two years after the COP28 agreement in 2023.
- Where
- Global, with specific mentions of the EU, US, Russia, China, and India.
- Why
- Insufficient progress on national targets risks undermining climate goals and energy security.
Insufficient Action
Slow Progress
Action on Targets
Insufficient Action
Many countries have not updated their renewable energy targets.
Slow Progress
Some countries have updated targets, but progress is slow.
- COP28 Pledge
- Triple renewable energy capacity by 2030
- 2030 Target
- 7.4 terawatts (TW)
- 2022 Installed Capacity
- 3.4 TW
- Capacity Needed to Meet Goal
- 11 TW
- Countries That Updated Targets
- 22 (mostly EU)
- Next Conference
- COP30 in Belem, Brazil