How cheap renewable energy is finally flattening emissions

Correction:
1:15 The graph has mislabeled trend lines. "Other renewables" generate more energy than hydropower alone.

For decades, rising carbon emissions have accelerated climate change, but this year marked a critical turning point that could finally reverse that trend. Renewable energy has now graduated beyond the need for subsidies and incentives, emerging as a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels in many countries. News Editor Tim Appenzeller and policy expert Li Shuo describe the economic forces behind this shift, and the obstacles that remain to the continued rise of green energy.

Read the essay: https://www.science.org/content/article/breakthrough-2025