As climate change heats up, a number of countries are racing to generate 100 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2050. It’s an ambitious goal, but one that’s increasingly attainable as green energy technologies become more affordable. A quarter of the 184 countries that added their names to the Paris Climate Agreement are positioned to meet their renewable goals—some even before 2050—and a handful of pioneers are leading the way.

 

Small Countries, Big Goals

The tiny island nation of Cape Verde has a giant plan: to become Africa’s first country to run solely on renewable energy. The country wants half its energy to come from renewables by 2030, and entirely from them by 2050. 

 

Scotland and Costa Rica have even greater ambitions—both countries are on target to reach 100% renewable energy by the end of 2020.

 

Scotland has invested heavily in wind and solar, and the country is aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2045. Costa Rica currently produces over 78% of its electricity using natural water systems. Much of the rest comes from wind, solar, and geothermal energy sources. To reach its renewable energy goal, the country is considering electric vehicle initiatives and an expansion of geothermal energy projects.

 

The European nation of Slovenia recently announced that it wants to slash carbon emissions and phase out the use of coal by 2050. It pledged to increase its renewable energy resources twofold over the next decade. In order to meet increasing energy demands, Prime Minister Marjan Sarec has called for a second nuclear power plant.