Over the past few years, more countries have started using renewable energy like solar and wind power. This shift is happening for a few different reasons, including lowering pollution, saving money over time, and becoming less dependent on fossil fuels. While different countries are at different stages in terms of their progress, the overall trend is global. In the International Energy Agency’s global energy reports, the IEA notes how “renewable energy is growing faster than any other energy source right now. Renewables are expected to make up most of the new electricity capacity added worldwide. It is set to dominate global electricity expansion.” Additionally, the report notes that “the cost of electricity from utility-scale solar photovoltaics has fallen significantly, making it one of the most competitive sources of power generation in many regions of the world. This change has made it easier for both developed and developing countries to invest in clean energy without as much financial risk.” This has even been discussed as the United Nations has “explained that renewable energy systems offer an opportunity to expand energy access in remote and underserved areas, while also supporting sustainable economic growth.” Not only is renewable energy a lot more accessible and affordable, but it also has positive impacts towards environmental goals. The IEA continued with how “the transition to clean energy is essential for reducing global carbon emissions and meeting international climate targets.” Honestly, I didn’t really think that much about renewable energy before this year, like it was just one of those things you hear about in class and then kind of forget about. But the more we talk about it, the more it actually feels important, especially since it’s not just about the environment but also like money and jobs and stuff. It’s kinda weird because on one hand it seems like things are improving, like you hear about solar panels getting cheaper and more countries using them, but then at the same time it still feels slow, like why didn’t this happen earlier? I feel like our generation is sort of stuck in the middle, where we didn’t cause the problem, but we’re definitely going to have to deal with it, so seeing renewable energy grow at least makes it seem like there’s some kind of direction instead of everything just getting worse. Sebastian Alam, a 12th-grade student at Corona del Mar High School, noted how, “The more I hear about renewable energy, the more it actually feels very prevalent, especially since it not only affects the environment, but money and jobs as well. On one hand, it seems like things are improving, like you hear about solar panels getting cheaper and more countries using them, but then at the same time, it still feels slow, like why didn’t this happen earlier? I feel like our generation is sort of stuck in the middle where we didn’t cause the problem, but we’re definitely going to have to deal with it, so seeing renewable energy grow at least makes it seem like there’s some kind of direction instead of everything just getting worse.” While the transition is still a work in progress, the continued growth of renewable energy shows a positive step towards a successful future. I