With global emissions still on the rise and natural disasters wreaking havoc around the world, it’s easy to succumb to climate anxiety due to the climate crisis. But despite the undeniable urgency of the crisis, a recent study by the German non-profit NewClimate Institute offers reasons to be hopeful.

Five significant shifts have taken place since the 2015 Paris Agreement, showing the progress being made in tackling the climate crisis. By recognizing how far we’ve come, we can better understand both the gains we’ve made and the areas where urgent action is still needed.

1. Climate Change Discourse Has Become Mainstream

A decade ago, only select parts of society were actively concerned about climate change. Fast forward to today, and climate change is now a central issue in public and political discourse across the globe. Public awareness has surged—highlighted by a BBC survey that found 60 percent of respondents in 2020 viewed climate change as a serious issue, up from 40 percent in 2014.

The 2021 “Peoples Climate Vote,” conducted by the UNDP and the University of Oxford across 50 countries, confirmed this shift. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, an overwhelming 85 percent of respondents viewed climate change as a global emergency, alongside 72 percent of people in Western Europe and North America, and 61 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This rise in awareness has fueled climate protests and movements, pressuring governments and businesses to act. Advances in attribution science have further bolstered accountability, with climate litigation becoming a powerful tool to push for real change.

In 2023 alone, youth activists, environmental groups, and public figures like Greta Thunberg have taken their governments to court for failing to meet their climate commitments.

 2. Net-Zero Goals Have Become Global Norms

The concept of achieving net-zero emissions was virtually non-existent before the Paris Agreement, with only Bhutan holding such a target. Today, more than 90 countries, accounting for nearly 80 percent of global emissions, have committed to net-zero goals. While there is still a long way to go in reducing emissions, the trajectory has shifted in a positive direction.

In 2015, climate models predicted a temperature rise of 3.6 to 3.9°C by 2100. Thanks to policy shifts and emissions cuts, that projection has now dropped to 2.7°C, showing that international efforts are beginning to flatten the emissions curve.

 3. Business and Investors Are Feeling the Pressure

Climate change is no longer a niche concern among businesses and investors. The corporate world has increasingly recognized the financial risks posed by the climate crisis. The demand for sustainable investments is growing rapidly, with 84 percent of asset owners in 2021 reporting that they were implementing or evaluating green investment strategies—up from 53 percent just three years earlier, according to PwC.

Green innovation is driving new business models, while the threat of stranded assets is steering finance away from fossil fuels and towards renewables. Companies can no longer rely on greenwashing without scrutiny, as citizens and governments become more knowledgeable and climate litigation looms as a risk for those that fail to act.

 4. Renewables Are Now Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels

In the past, renewable energy sources struggled to compete with fossil fuels on both cost and reliability. That has changed dramatically in recent years. Power systems are shifting toward more flexible, decentralized models that incorporate solar, wind, and hydropower. The costs of renewable energy have plummeted, with solar and wind costs falling between 60 to 90 percent over the last decade, according to the IPCC.

New renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels in 90 percent of the world. For every dollar invested in fossil fuels, $1.70 is now being spent on clean energy—a significant shift from the 1:1 ratio of just five years ago. This financial transition is helping to solidify the role of renewables as the backbone of future energy systems.

 5. Electrification of Buildings and Transport Is Advancing Rapidly

Electric mobility and building electrification are crucial components of the world’s decarbonization strategy. Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common, with countries such as those in the European Economic Area, Canada, and Chile phasing out combustion-engine vehicles.

Although the widespread adoption of EVs still faces challenges—such as the need for more charging infrastructure and further cost reductions—advancements in battery technology are making these barriers less daunting. The cost of lithium-ion batteries has dropped by 80 percent in the last decade, making them commercially viable.

Heat pumps, which help decarbonize buildings, are gaining traction globally. Financial incentives are spurring their use in over 30 countries. Sales of these pumps in Europe rose by 38 percent from 2013 to 2022, and they are also being adapted for industrial use.

The push for electrification is extending into traditionally hard-to-abate sectors like shipping and heavy industry, where technologies like hydrogen steel and electric ships are becoming viable options.

 Hopeful Progress, Urgent Action Needed

While these shifts signal positive momentum, the climate crisis continues to accelerate. The study’s authors emphasize that the pace of progress must increase to meet the urgency of the crisis. To stay within the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement, the world must continue to push for faster, broader adoption of these solutions.

The challenge is immense, but as these five hopeful signs show, we are not starting from scratch—we are building on significant advances that bring us closer to a sustainable future.