Earth Day 2025: Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity by 2030

April 22nd, 2025 marks Earth Day — a global moment of unity and action to protect the planet with this year's theme, Our Power, Our Planet.

The goal is to triple installed renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, requiring a 16.6% annual growth rate.

“Let us commit to harnessing renewable energy to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for all,” EarthDay.org says. 

“Let us commit to renewable energy now.”

Our power to transform

With the climate crisis accelerating, the message of Earth Day 2025 is unequivocal: the time to commit to renewable energy is now.

“Cutting emissions is not something we have to make today for today. It is something that one should attain at a long-vision programme,” comments Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO at Fincantieri, speaking during his time as CEO at Maire Tecnimont.

“This is the time to share a bold plan for industrial recovery with a positive impact on the economy, the society and the environment.”

The solutions to create clean, reliable and affordable energy for all are already within reach. 

“The race to net zero will not be won through words alone, we will only get there if we commit the time and resources to achieve change every single day,” explains André Lacroix, CEO at Intertek.

“This year’s global theme, ‘Our Planet, Our Power’ serves as an inspiration to organisations and individuals to lead through action and integrity when it comes to fighting climate change.” 

From national governments to local communities, schools, businesses and households, the global call is clear – invest in the transition to renewables to ensure a just, safe and resilient future.

“Education plays a critical role in empowering and inspiring long-term sustainability. By helping young people understand the connections between energy, water and climate, we’re laying the groundwork for more informed decision-making,” says Callie Bendickson, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Itron.

Geothermal power around the world

Geothermal emits 97% less acid rain-causing compounds and 99% less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, offering vast potential for scalable, low-impact energy generation.

Geothermal energy, a steady and low-emission power source, is gaining traction globally – The United States leads in advanced geothermal energy production, leveraging existing drilling infrastructure. 

Outside of the US, Kenya stands as a continental leader, generating nearly half of its electricity from geothermal, a key contributor to grid stability and emissions reduction.

Global solar power

Solar energy continues its meteoric rise as one of the world’s most promising power sources. 

In 2023, the US achieved record-breaking solar output, with states including California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Nevada and Arizona leading the charge.

Across the US, solar capacity has grown more than tenfold in the past decade and it is expected to become the second largest source of electricity in the country within years.

The 2022 National Solar Jobs Census reported 263,883 solar energy workers in the US alone, reflecting a 3.5% year-on-year growth.

Australia is also a global leader in residential solar, with one-third of all homes equipped with rooftop panels.

Solar isn’t just a climate solution, it’s an economic catalyst, powering households, reducing energy bills and creating jobs.

A world full of wind power

Wind energy has reshaped the global power landscape.

Texas, which previously dominated fossil fuels now leads the US in wind generation.

Across the pond, Denmark currently generates more than 50% of its electricity from wind. 

By 2026, wind will power 30% of Spain’s grid, 23% of Germany’s and account for 17% of the Netherlands’ electricity.

This rapid progress shows that wind can flourish across geographies with the right policy and infrastructure in place.

Global renewable energy

Globally, the renewable energy market was worth US$1.21tn in 2023 and is forecast to grow 17.2% annually until 2030. 

“Together, let’s innovate for a healthier planet. Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 and have zero waste in our direct operations, using our AI solutions to achieve environmental goals,” explains Andrew Kerr, General Manager at Microsoft Northeast.

The shift to renewables is global — and growing rapidly:

• Uruguay now produces 98% of its electricity from renewables after years of strategic investment.

• Brazil generates nearly 68% of its electricity from hydro-electric power.

• In Italy, hydro accounts for 23% and in the Netherlands, 16%.

• China leads in both solar and wind energy, with twice as much renewable capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined.

• The US, through the Inflation Reduction Act, is backing clean energy investments that are expected to save households US$27–38bn between 2022 and 2030.

• India has pledged to source 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030.

This growth is expected to create 14 million new jobs, underscoring the profound economic opportunities of the green transition.

“We are reinforcing our dedication to environmental sustainability by raising awareness and inspiring action toward a greener future,” comments Chee Gay Lim, Managing Director at The Access Group.

“This Earth Day is emphasising the urgency with which we need to shift to clean and renewable energy sources. The private sector will play a major role in the transition,” says Andrew Walton, Chief Sustainability Officer at Lloyds Banking Group.

“We’re supporting infrastructure initiatives critical to delivering a cleaner energy system.”

The health benefits of clean energy

The renewable transition isn’t just environmental — it’s a matter of public health:

• 3.8 billion people currently use less than 1,000 kWh of electricity per year — the Modern Energy Minimum required to alleviate poverty.

• Reducing fossil fuel use drastically cuts air pollution, lowering rates of asthma, bronchitis, heart disease and strokes.

• Women face increased risks of breast cancer, ovarian diseases and maternal health complications due to pollution.

• Clean energy reduces the impact of climate-related stress, noise pollution and environmental disasters on mental health.

• Improved water quality from renewable energy sources reduces exposure to waterborne diseases.

• Lower healthcare costs benefit entire health systems and reduce strain on public resources.

“Innovation and technology are core enablers of regenerative agriculture,” explains Donato Del Vecchio, Chief Sustainability Officer at British American Tobacco.

“This leads to more resilient crops and a more sustainable agricultural system in the communities where we operate.”

A movement built on people

At its heart, Earth Day has always been about people's power. 

“The urgency of the current climate crisis demands immediate action, and everyone, from critical industries to consumers, has a part to play,” comments Kelly Becker, President, UK & Ireland, Belgium & Netherlands at Schneider Electric.

“By replacing processes reliant on fossil fuels with those that maximise the potential of renewable energy, we can move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. This Earth Day, we need to start turning ambition into action.” 

The collective voice of citizens is what drives governments and corporations to act. 

From voting for climate policies to making sustainable lifestyle choices, individual actions compound to shift the status quo.

“What better time to think about how we can all make little choices to help protect the environment — starting at home. 10% of European household food waste comes from misunderstandings about date labels,” explains Ivo van den Brand, Chief Marketing Officer at Too Good to Go.

“Our ‘Look-Smell-Taste’ label helps avoid unnecessary food waste and the emissions that come with it – thereby helping to protect our planet.”

Earth Day 2025 aims to be a turning point — a moment where words become action and individuals, communities and organisations come together to build a world powered by clean, equitable energy.

Our Power, Our Planet — the future is in our hands.

Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE. 

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand