The Winds of Change
The Winds of Change are Stiffening
By Kathleen Biggins
At a time when caring for the climate seems downright quaint and out of date, when the drumbeat of climate denial sounds steadily and loudly, when federal policy is squashing and delaying renewable energy projects, it may seem incongruous to herald that progress is being made. But when we consider the big picture, the winds of change are stiffening. Let’s take a closer look at some positive trends at home and abroad.
Demographics are changing. Younger Republicans are substantially more concerned about climate change than their parents and grandparents. They also support fossil fuels less and support clean energy more. As younger voters become a larger share of the electorate, today’s partisan divide on climate change is unlikely to remain as stark as it is today.
Political backlash is growing against high electricity costs – and renewables can help. Artificial intelligence and data centers are dramatically increasing electricity demand, driving up costs and leading to political fallout in both conservative and liberal areas. We simply can’t meet the demand without new power generation.
In the near-term, reliance on natural gas, historically the primary electricity source in the U.S., is expected to increase – especially at off-the-grid power generators at data center sites. But it is significantly hampered by delays and cost: new gas-fired plants now take five to seven years to come online and are three times more expensive to build than a decade ago due to supply chain and workforce shortages. In addition, fuel prices are expected to rise significantly as we export more liquefied natural gas onto the global market and due to geopolitical disruptions.
At the same time, we have an enormous backlog of cheaper clean-energy projects waiting in our transmission queue. Approximately 95% of all sidelined capacity consists of wind, solar, and battery storage – roughly 2.6 terawatts of potential generation, and more than twice the generating capacity of our current U.S. grid. Harnessing this clean energy is the quickest and cheapest way to add capacity to our grid.
Clean energy is now the cheapest energy. Wind and solar are now the lowest-cost sources of new electricity generation in almost all of the United States and around the world. Conservative states such as Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas generate at least half of their electricity from wind while maintaining some of the nation’s lowest electricity prices. Texas, long identified with oil and gas, has become one of the world’s renewable energy leaders, generating more than one-third of its electricity from wind, solar, and battery storage. Those resources have significantly reduced wholesale electricity costs and improved grid reliability while providing billions of dollars in income to rural landowners and local communities.
These energy savings are getting too big to ignore. The world saved $480B last year by using more renewable energy instead of burning fossil fuels. And these savings are not one-and-done; sunbeams and wind currents are “free,” so renewable generation will continue to displace fossil fuels and provide savings in future years.
Climate change is no longer an abstract discussion. In the 1980s, the U.S. experienced $1B weather and climate disasters three times a year – we are now averaging roughly one every two weeks. Unsurprisingly, a large majority of Americans report experiencing an extreme weather event during the past year. Research also suggests that people who experience these events are more likely to recognize the role climate change plays in making many of these disasters more frequent or more severe.
Cleantech is getting more politically savvy. Many Republican lawmakers privately acknowledge the scientific consensus on climate change, yet have faced strong political incentives to avoid publicly embracing climate policy. Following the successful playbook of fossil fuel companies, many cleantech leaders are increasingly investing in relationships across the political spectrum, working to make clean-energy innovation a “purple” issue versus a “progressive” one.
Clean energy is taking the high ground. Another longstanding criticism – that pursuing clean energy condemns poorer communities to “energy poverty” – is steadily losing credibility.
Across Africa and other developing regions, distributed solar power is bringing electricity to communities that otherwise might wait decades for centralized transmission infrastructure. Instead of relying on imported fossil fuels with volatile prices, families gain access to affordable, locally generated electricity. In fact, Africa – where the vast majority of people without energy access live – is becoming one of the fastest-growing renewable markets.
The same principle applies in the United States. Wind and solar development is creating new income streams for farmers, ranchers, and economically struggling rural communities, particularly across states like Texas, as well as creating opportunities for lower future utility costs nationwide.
Other countries are moving quickly and benefiting from the transition. China and India continue to consume enormous quantities of fossil fuels as their economies expand, but last year both decreased fossil fuel electricity generation as they rapidly deployed renewable energy, batteries, and modern electric grids.
India, the world’s fastest growing economy and third-largest emitter, produced three times as much new clean energy than was needed to fully power that growth, allowing it to actually lower its emissions last year while its economy expanded.
And China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, last year installed half of all new global clean-energy capacity. These additions mean that, as of this year, China now has more generation capacity in renewables than in fossil fuels.
Worldwide, carbon intensity – the greenhouse gas emissions produced per unit of economic output – has continued to decline as clean energy expands. North America was a notable exception in 2025, with emissions and carbon intensity increasing, driven largely by surging electricity demand from AI infrastructure and increased fossil fuel generation in the United States. In fact, last year our increased demand exceeded our clean-energy additions – North American carbon emissions rose 3.2%, driven primarily by the U.S. and accounted for 47% of global emissions growth.
And so here we are. History is filled with moments when a determined minority delayed critically needed change. Current climate policy in the U.S. will likely be remembered as one of those moments. But the winds of change are strong, and this recent doubling down on fossil fuels and climate denial could be the last hurrah of a fading system fighting against an inevitable future.
Kathleen Biggins is Founder and President of C-Change Conversations.
B-Change Blog: How to Talk About Climate Change
One Simple Thing We Can Do to Help
With Climate Change: Talk About It.
October, 2026
By Karen Dougherty
How can talking about climate change be a solution?
If you are reading this, you probably care that our planet is heating up. But did you realize you’re in good company? Contrary to popular belief, most Americans care, but we tend not to talk much about our concerns. Why not? Maybe it’s because we assume others disagree and we want to avoid an uncomfortable conversation. But how do we know how others feel unless we ask?
Bringing up climate change is a simple strategy, but it’s also powerful. Having a calm, respectful conversation about climate change can:
■ Generate ideas
■ Instill hope
■ Reduce polarization
■ Build consensus
■ Uncover myths
■ Validate facts
■ Be contagious
■ Lead to action
Why does it seem so hard?
If you hesitate to bring up climate change with friends, family members, neighbors, or colleagues, it’s understandable. It may be because most of us underestimate how many others feel the same way. We shouldn’t let that hold us back; in reality, there is a good chance we’ll find common ground with the person in front of us. Polling shows that an estimated 63% of Americans are somewhat or very worried about climate change, and 74% believe we should be regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
What should I say?
If you’re game to try but don’t know where to begin, this clever video is a helpful guide on how to have a meaningful conversation with someone about climate change. This is another clip on the same topic. And for some ideas on how to talk about specific issues related to climate – such as extreme weather, health, or cost of living – check out this resource.
Tips to get started
Here are some quick tips to help you get started, along with a few things I’ve learned through trial and error:
1. Start with a question
Don’t assume you know what someone thinks about climate change. If you throw it out there, you might be surprised by what you hear. So, simply asking what they think is a great place to start.
2. Listen (the hard part)
Once you ask your question, stop and truly hear the response. Don’t interrupt or disagree, even if your tongue is bleeding from biting it. Ask follow-up questions and seek to understand their perspective. This is the hardest part for most of us, but easily the most crucial.
Regardless of their response, don’t start dumping facts. I’ll admit I’ve made this mistake many times, and it’s the fastest way to shut things down. Nobody wants to be ambushed at a social event (or ever). The goal of the conversation is not to convince the other person of your views but to learn from one another.
3. Tell your story and make a connection
We all have different reasons to care about climate change, but we are each affected in some way. Many people are being impacted by the warming planet already without connecting the dots. Try bringing up a common hobby or share what got you interested in the first place.
For example, does this person like to ski, go to the beach, fish, travel, or drink coffee? Do they have children and/or grandchildren? Try to make a connection between climate change and the things or people they love.
You could also mention something you’re doing in your own life to reduce emissions. Maybe you switched to a heat pump or got an electric vehicle. Maybe you’re substituting ground turkey for beef or considering solar panels. Any small step you’re taking could become a conversation starter.
4. End on a positive note
No matter what, do your best to end on a positive note. Optimism is infectious, and the last thing we want is for people to feel like the situation is beyond fixing. Bring up a hopeful news story or innovative solution. The Daily Climate website has a compilation of upbeat stories on climate change. Maybe keep a few positive story ideas in your back pocket for when the opportunity strikes.
5. Practice makes you better
The more conversations you have, the easier they become. And as it turns out, now – midterm election season – is a great time to practice your skills. No better time than the present to start talking!
In addition to volunteering for C-Change, Karen blogs about climate change at unheating.com.
September 2026 Curated Climate News
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