80% of World Embraces Clean Energy Despite US Slowdown

The world has quietly reached a turning point: clean energy is now the cheapest option, and most countries aren't looking back.

Jon Creyts, CEO of the Rocky Mountain Institute, just returned from the global climate summit with surprising news. Countries like Brazil, India, Australia, and Morocco are sprinting toward renewable energy—not because of climate pressure, but because it makes economic sense.

"The rest of the world isn't waiting," Creyts told Aspen Public Radio. "Roughly 80% of the world looks at clean energy and says, 'This is what we need. This is the most affordable solution.'"

Solar and wind now cost less than fossil fuels, making them the overwhelming majority of new energy projects worldwide. In India, the Rocky Mountain Institute is helping electrify millions of small delivery vehicles and public buses. The result? Lower fuel costs and cleaner air for crowded cities.

The math has fundamentally changed. Batteries paired with home heating and cooling systems will soon protect families when the grid goes down. Mountain town utilities are already installing battery systems for backup power during outages.

The Ripple Effect

The shift extends beyond electricity. Small innovations in rural Colorado are tackling methane leaks from old coal mines and natural gas operations. Each fix reduces greenhouse gases while capturing valuable fuel that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.

Technology already exists to solve 70% of the climate challenge cost-effectively. Heavy industries like steel, cement, and chemicals still need breakthroughs, but the hardest problems are no longer technical or financial.

"The greatest challenge isn't about the technology, and it's not about the economics anymore," Creyts explained. "It's about us. It's about how we work together to scale these solutions and overcome our preconceptions."

Countries moving fastest toward clean energy share a common thread: they recognize the economic opportunity before them. While political debates continue in the United States, the global energy transformation is gaining momentum—driven by savings, not sacrifice.

The future of energy looks brighter, cleaner, and cheaper than most people realize.