The Paris Agreement and the rise of solar power
The Paris climate summit ignited the growth of solar electricity in major emerging markets and into the world’s fastest-growing source of electricity. The Paris climate summit ten years ago ignited the growth of solar electricity in major emerging markets, notably China, India and Brazil, helping turn solar from a marginal player into the world’s fastest-growing source of electricity.
Ten years after the Paris Agreement, when countries made the first universal commitment to constrain greenhouse gas emissions, the growth of solar power has been the most dramatic response. Solar is the fastest-growing electricity source in the world’s history, providing around ten times more electricity now than in 2015, when it provided just 1% of global generation. In 2024, solar made up 6.9% of global generation, rising further to 8.8% in the first half of 2025 — and in many countries, its share of the electricity mix is considerably higher.
In the decade since the Paris COP21 Summit, solar leadership has moved from the richest nations to emerging economies. In 2015, mature economies accounted for three-quarters of global solar electricity generation; today they make less than half.
In the three countries highlighted in this report, solar has grown much faster than the global average – nearly 20-fold in India and over 20-fold in China. Brazil built one of the fastest solar expansions in the world, with capacity growing by around 70% per year on average.
Author's summary (120–200 characters): The Paris Agreement accelerated solar growth, shifting leadership to emerging economies and transforming solar into a dominant, fast-growing electricity source worldwide.