It has been just over ten years since the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed, and with the perspective that time provides, it is clear that it marked a turning point. Not because it solved the problem, but because it changed the way the world began to talk—and act—in the face of global warming.
Before Paris, climate change was a technical, distant, and often uncomfortable topic. After the agreement, it became a permanent part of the political, economic, and social debate. For the first time, almost all countries accepted a common goal: to try to limit the increase in the average global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
One of the treaty's major achievements was establishing a framework for continuous monitoring through the COPs (Conferences of the Parties). These annual meetings allow for measuring progress, reviewing commitments, and putting pressure—albeit imperfectly—on the countries lagging behind.
It is true that, ten years later, we are still far from the established goals. It is also true that some governments have created more obstacles than solutions. But it would be a mistake to ignore the real progress that has been made since 2015, which has been, in part, the silent revolution of renewable energy.
Probably the most significant change has come from where it was least expected: price. Ten years ago, few imagined that solar and wind energy would be cheaper than fossil fuels in much of the world today. However, that is now a reality.
Electricity generated from renewable sources already surpasses that produced with coal, which is clearly declining, despite the resistance of some producing countries. In many countries, sustainable generation exceeds 50% of the electricity mix, and the trend continues to rise.
This change has not only been technological but also economic. The drop in battery prices has allowed many renewable energy installations to incorporate storage systems, partially solving the problem of the intermittency of solar and wind power. Examples unthinkable a decade ago
Some recent milestones clearly illustrate just how much the landscape has changed. In Australia, for example, solar energy is projected to be so abundant and cheap by 2026 that it will be offered virtually free for several hours at midday. This would have seemed like science fiction in 2015.
All of this demonstrates that the Paris Agreement not only boosted climate policies but also activated markets, innovation, and new business models linked to the energy transition.
There is no reason for triumphalism. Much remains to be done, and time is of the essence. But it also makes no sense to succumb to defeatism and deny the progress achieved in just ten years.
The world has already begun a structural shift in how energy is produced. Countries and companies that adapt quickly will gain competitiveness. Those that lag behind will lose opportunities, market share, and relevance.
As is almost always the case, history waits for no one. The Paris Agreement was the starting point. The course is set. Now, speed is what matters.
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