Clean Energy Investments hit 2.1 trillion$ - But what’s next?

Global investment in energy transition technologies reached a record $2.1 trillion in 2024, an 11% increase from the previous year, according to BloombergNEF. This growth, driven by electric vehicles, renewable energy, and improved grid infrastructure, shows strong support for cleaner energy. However, experts warn that current funding is insufficient to meet global climate goals.

Nations are increasing spending on low-carbon energy to combat climate change and fulfill Paris Agreement targets. Nevertheless, experts indicate that to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, global investments must triple to $5.6 trillion annually from 2025 to 2030. This significant gap emphasizes the need for larger commitments and quicker action.

The energy sector is considered vital in fighting climate change, being responsible for about 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As temperatures increase each year, the shift to clean energy is more urgent. However, that is only for those who buy into the climate change narrative. That climate is changing is not in question. But why and what that means for humans and planet Earth - is where scientists, naturalists, philosophers and spiritualists widely take different directions.

What it comes down to is which worldview will be the prevailing one going forward. The now almost “old” worldview, sees a battles against climate change as noble fight. For spiritualists and naturalists, this is an absurd undertaking. For starters, Earth never works against something. So having a “fight” against climate change is not in alignment with Earth’s modus operandi. And not in alignment with the laws of Creation. One can only make real determinations about nature when we understand the nature of Nature. And we also must give Earth her pwn space to make adjustments. As Earth is changing, She balances things out. After all, Earth has been adapting for 4.5 billion years. Now, that doesn’t mean, the world should continue pumping chemicals in the air or otherwise increase pollution. But climate change and working more harmoniously with Earth are two different approaches.

The mainstream climate change narrative promotes an aim to cut emissions to keep global temperature rise below 2°C, ideally at 1.5°C. The Paris Agreement's goals could only be met if the energy sector achieved net zero emissions by 2050. This would require a systematic phase-out of fossil fuels and the removal of ineffective fossil fuel subsidies that obstruct progress. Net zero at present time is not feasible. And when you look at how Nature works, net zero isn’t a natural way of operating. While Nature produces zero waste - because everything has a purpose — the exchange of gases are natural processes. And to see the human as a problem for Earth, too, is a faulty narrative as humans are part of Nature, not separate from it.

So, as the narratives are changing and political leadership is taking a turn to the right, the question is what new narrative will prevail? How would that affect investments in a better collaboration with Earth?

Currently, electrified transport lead investment in cleaner energy with $757 billion in funding, including electric cars, commercial EV fleets, public charging stations, and fuel cell vehicles. The booming EV market shows strong support for cleaner mobility solutions.

Renewable energy investments reached $728 billion globally for wind, solar, biofuels, and other green sources. Additionally, power grid modernization attracted $390 billion for smarter grids, better transmission lines, and digital energy management tools. Nuclear investment stayed flat at $34.2 billion.

Conversely, investments in emerging technologies such as electrified heat, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), nuclear, clean industry, and clean shipping totaled only $155 billion and represent a 23% decline from the previous year. Challenges in affordability, technology maturity, and commercial scalability hindered progress. Therefore, collaboration between public and private sectors is essential to advance these technologies and reduce emissions. As what is considered “public” in changing political environments is rapidly changing - public private constellations as we’ve had for the past two decades mostly promoted by the WEF are changing in nature, too. As democratizing leadership presses forward and the Western world celebrates a new found return to empowered citizenship, it is likely fair to say that “public-private” partnerships of the likes we’ve seen for the past twenty years are running their course. Instead, people around the world self-organize and collaborate directly for more efficient and better ways to work with Earth.

In 2024, mainland China became the leading market for energy transition investment, contributing $818 billion, a 20% increase from the previous year. This rise made up two-thirds of the global growth, with strong investments in renewables, energy storage, nuclear power, electric vehicles, and power grids. China's total investment was greater than that of the US, EU, and UK combined. Energy investment in China now represents 4.5% of its GDP, surpassing that of the EU and US. The US is the second-largest market with $338 billion, while Germany is third with $109 billion in clean energy investments. India and Canada also helped the global growth, increasing their investments by 13% and 19%, respectively.