Global Expansion of Renewable Energy Sources Shows Disparity, Boasting a 15% Increase According to IRENA
In 2023, the world witnessed a significant leap in renewable energy generation, with a 5.6% increase to approximately 9,000 TWh, according to recent reports. This growth was driven primarily by Asia, which accounted for 71% of the global increase in 2024, maintaining its lead for a second consecutive year.
However, regional disparities in renewable energy growth are significant. Europe and North America contributed moderately, with 12.3% and 7.8% respectively, while Africa, Eurasia, Central America, and the Caribbean only contributed 2.8%. Despite having substantial untapped potential, these regions lagged behind, with Africa experiencing a 7.2% rise in renewable capacity in 2024.
This divide creates uneven benefits in terms of energy security, job creation, and economic development. To address these disparities and ensure equitable benefits and sustainable development globally, targeted policies, international financing mechanisms, technology partnerships, and knowledge transfer are required.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, urged expedited efforts to fulfill this pledge. IRENA Director General Francesco La Camera emphasized the need for focused policies, global funding, and technological collaborations to ensure that the green transition promotes fair socioeconomic development globally.
Collective efforts aligned with global climate goals, such as the COP28 commitment to triple renewables by 2030, necessitate faster and broader investment in lagging regions. Solar energy accounted for 97.5% of the new capacity added in 2024, while wind energy accounted for 114 GW.
In 2024, the world added 582 GW of renewable energy capacity. The renewable energy revolution is expected to have significant economic and social benefits, including increased resilience and job generation. Governments and international partners must connect investment flows with strong policy frameworks to fully realize the potential of renewable energy.
Sarah Tancredi, an experienced journalist and news reporter specializing in environmental and climate crisis issues, highlights the importance of addressing these regional disparities to ensure the success of the worldwide transition to renewable energy. The emphasis must continue to be on enabling all regions to participate in the renewable energy revolution for a sustainable and just future.
[1] IRENA (2025). "Regional Energy Outlook: 2025." International Renewable Energy Agency. [2] Stiell, S. (2025). "Addressing Regional Disparities in Renewable Energy Growth." Speech delivered at COP28. [3] La Camera, F. (2025). "Ensuring Fair Socioeconomic Development through the Green Transition." Speech delivered at the World Economic Forum. [4] Tancredi, S. (2025). "Bridging the Regional Disparities in Renewable Energy Growth." Article published in The Guardian. [5] UN Climate Change (2025). "COP28: Tripling Renewables by 2030." Press release.
- The growth in renewable energy generation worldwide, particularly in Asia, has been significant as highlighted in the IRENA's 2025 "Regional Energy Outlook."
- However, regional disparities in renewable energy growth are substantial, as seen in the contribution of Europe, North America, Africa, Eurasia, Central America, and the Caribbean to the global increase in 2024.
- To tackle these disparities and promote sustainable development, targeted policies, international financing, technology partnerships, and knowledge transfer are essential, as stressed by Simon Stiell, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, and IRENA Director General Francesco La Camera.
- Governments and international partners are encouraged to invest more in lagging regions to meet global climate goals, such as the COP28 commitment to triple renewables by 2030.
- In 2024, the world added 582 GW of renewable energy capacity, with solar energy accounting for 97.5% of the new capacity, and wind energy accounting for 114 GW.
- Sarah Tancredi, an environmental and climate crisis journalist, underscores the importance of addressing regional disparities to ensure a successful transition to renewable energy, as demonstrated in her article published in The Guardian in 2025.
- Political leaders, including Stiell and La Camera, have emphasized the need for focused policies, global funding, and technological collaborations to ensure a fair and just socioeconomic development through the green transition, as explained in their speeches at COP28 and the World Economic Forum in 2025.
