Ever increasing urgency in finding solutions to global climate change has magnified the imperative of facilitating the growth and development of clean and renewable energy sources. Indeed, expert analyses suggest that de-carbonization of the energy sector is where most progress on GHG mitigation is possible. However, outside of current wind and solar deployment rates, clean energy deployment is lagging far behind the pace necessary to meet carbon and other GHG reduction objectives. Fortunately, there are a number of positive signs for global clean and renewable energy going forward—the pledges made at COP21, although in and of themselves are insufficient to meet the world’s climate change goals, nevertheless demonstrate the necessary solidarity and willingness to tackle this problem as an international collective. Furthermore, 2015 was a record year for clean energy finance worldwide, with over $328.3 billion in investment—this number will likely be surpassed in 2016. Moreover, reports such as the United Nations’ Pathways to Deep Decarbonization highlight and underscore underappreciated means to bolster clean energy generation, such as geothermal power. With a striking correlation between carbon emissions and wealth, it is clear that the developed world must take the lead in curbing emissions. Although it can be argued that the pursuit of economic growth has accelerated the pace of emissions and thus climate change, it is also economic power that now provides the potential solutions to this pressing generational issue.
