In the U.S., science and federally-funded work on climate and nature has taken a major hit. It is concerning to see U.S. climate action faltering, but the world is marching on and so should we. Regardless of what the Trump administration is saying, the world is accelerating towards a clean energy future.

You may have heard people say that renewables aren鈥檛 reliable because the sun doesn鈥檛 always shine and the wind doesn鈥檛 always blow. Those working in clean energy are very aware of this, which is why energy storage is one of the fastest growing areas of innovation today. Investment and job creation go hand in hand with renewable energy projects. In 2024, global investment in renewable energy was almost twice that of fossil fuel projects, with investments hitting a new record of $2 trillion.

Climate scientist, Katharine Heyhoe, writes about some of the many storage techniques being developed in her home state of Texas. They range from gravity-based systems to compressed air. Finland now has the world鈥檚 largest sand battery clean energy storage and is constructing one of the largest underground heat storage facilities in the world. Last year, there was a 44 per cent increase in the number of battery storage systems installed around the world; 80 per cent were grid-scale storage systems that will ensure around-the-clock energy supply to the grid.

Last year, the European Union got a full 11 per cent of its power from solar energy, besting coal, and that percentage is expected to grow in the years ahead. As Clean Energy Canada recently pointed out: 鈥淥ur other largest trading partners, Europe and China, remain all-in on the energy transition, with the latter now seeing EV sales of around 50 per cent, part of a trend projected to displace six million barrels of oil a day in just six years 鈥� or about a year after Trump leaves office ... The energy transition is underway and unstoppable, and while there is a question of speed, the destination leaves no doubt.鈥�

According to a new report from clean energy think tank Ember, European countries collectively generated 47 per cent of their electricity from solar and other renewables in 2024. Solar overtook coal for the first time. Fossil fuel generation fell to a 鈥渉istoric low." China installed yet another record amount of solar and wind in 2024. China met its own renewables target six years ahead of schedule!

The energy transition is in progress, and Canada should embrace it. If Canada does not press on towards a clean energy transition, it would be a mistake. As UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said, doing so 鈥渙nly sends all that vast wealth (of the clean energy boom) to competitor economies.鈥�

Jane Weixl is with Climate Action Now! North Okanagan