• Renewable energy outstrips coal for the first time, generating 5,072 TWh compared to coal's 4,896 TWh.
• China and India lead the global transition to renewable energy sources, significantly increasing solar and wind power output.
• Fossil fuel use, particularly coal generation, increases in the U.S. and EU amid rising energy demand.
• Total fossil fuel generation dropped slightly overall, indicating a turning point in energy trends.
• Global carbon dioxide emissions saw a minor decrease as renewables exceeded demand growth.

For the first time in history, renewable energy has overtaken coal as the primary source of electricity globally, according to a new report by the think tank Ember. Renewable electricity represented 34.3% of global consumption during the first half of 2025, while coal's share fell to 33.1%. This shift reflects a growing reliance on environmentally beneficial energy sources despite ongoing global energy demand, which rose substantially earlier this year, as reported by Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.

The global surge in renewable generation, particularly solar and wind, is largely attributed to significant increases in production from populous nations like China and India. In the first half of 2025, China saw solar generation growth of 43% and India had an impressive rise of 31%, effectively pushing back against fossil fuel dependencies, according to Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.

However, fossil fuel generation experienced a resurgence in the United States and the European Union, where coal and gas consumption rose to meet electricity demand. In the U.S., coal production increased by 17%, reflecting the administration's policies aimed at boosting coal use, as noted in reports from Reuters and CBS News.

The report emphasizes that despite challenges in Western economies, the overall global fossil fuel generation reduced by less than 1%. In the face of unprecedented electricity demand driven by economic growth and technology advancements, this reduction signals a potential turning point in global energy practices, per the analysis from Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.

Experts suggest that the growth in renewable energy is crucial for achieving climate targets, with substantial investments in renewables needed to meet the rising demand for clean electricity while mitigating the climate impact of fossil fuel consumption, as articulated by analysts from Reuters, CBS News, and NPR.