A new United Nations special report highlights how far the world has come in renewable energy since the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015 sparked a clean energy revolution.
The report was released by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a speech which outlined the benefits and actions needed to power the transition globally . The UN report was prepared with the support of UN agencies and partners - Including the World Meteorological Organization.
"Renewables already nearly match fossil fuels in global installed power capacity. And that's just the beginning. Last year, almost all the new power capacity built came from renewables. Every continent on Earth added more renewables capacity than fossil fuels. And renewables generated almost a third of global electricity," said Mr Guterres.
In 2023 alone, clean energy sectors drove 10% of global GDP growth. In India, 5%. The United States, 6%. China - a leader in the energy transition - 20%. And in the European Union, nearly 33%.
And clean energy sector jobs now outnumber fossil fuel jobs - employing almost 35 million people worldwide.
"Why? Because it makes economic sense," said Mr Guterres in his address "a moment of opportunity: supercharging the clean energy age."
The WMO supports the global energy transition by helping National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) generate and apply weather, water, and climate intelligence to accelerate clean energy development at the national level.
"As the world races to transition away from fossil fuels, we must also transition to intelligence-driven systems that can anticipate, adapt, and thrive amid a changing climate. Weather, water, and climate services are mission-critical for powering a clean, reliable, and equitable energy future." (this could be a quite quote from SG or DGS if they agree)
Why weather water and climate Services Matter for Energy
Clean energy systems-especially solar, wind, and hydropower-depend on weather water and climate conditions. These systems are vulnerable to variability and extremes, which are expected to intensify with climate change. To ensure reliable, resilient, and secure energy supply, integrating climate data into energy planning is essential.
WMO plays a critical role in this integration by offering guidance, tools, and knowledge-sharing platforms:
Annual Climate-Energy Assessments
In partnership with IRENA, WMO produces an annual review of climate-driven changes in renewable energy potential and demand. The 2024 edition tracks wind, solar, hydropower, and energy demand against the 1991-2020 climate baseline, offering insights into the impact of climate variability on energy systems. It will be published in August 2025
Building Renewable Energy Atlases
Many developing nations lack localized data to support renewable energy planning. WMO is working with these countries to develop high-resolution, customized atlases for wind, solar, and hydropower. The approach blends Europe's ERA5 reanalysis, satellite data, ground observations, and climate projections using an adapted interpolation technique from numerical weather prediction.
This enables countries to bridge the gap between global data and local action-empowering more effective clean energy strategies and strengthening global energy security.
WMO Initiatives and Resources
Guidelines for Net-Zero Transition
Online Training for Energy and Climate Professionals
A self-paced course offering practical tools and case studies for using climate information in energy decision-making:
Energy & Meteorology Portal
A platform supporting global collaboration and knowledge exchange, with three core components:
- Knowledge Sharing: Sections for understanding, capacity building, and access to resources.
- Action-Oriented Tools: Includes the Global Energy Resilience Atlas, featuring Climate Hydro Risk Indices (CHRI). Future updates will include solar and wind indices.
- Engagement and Networking: Country and organization profiles highlight projects, services, and capabilities in climate-informed energy development.
