One day in 2019, Greenland lost 12.5 billion tons of ice. All washed away, never to find its glacial origins again.

This wasn’t an accident. Climate change is altering nature beyond repair—and rising seas are the tip of the iceberg. Without action, our planet will become uninhabitable by the end of the century.

Sustainable Development Goal 13—”climate action”—is a red alert for the planet. The good news: Solutions exist. By ditching fossil fuels for renewable alternatives, such as solar energy, we can save the planet we all depend on.

An Overview of Goal 13

Sustainable Development Goal 13 “takes urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” A warming planet causes glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise, habitats to die off, and extreme weather events to become more frequent. As that happens, millions of people will be displaced into poverty and hunger. 

Let’s find out where we stand on Goal 13:

• The global temperature has risen by 1.1° Celsius since the pre-industrial revolution.
• Global energy-related CO2 emissions grew by 1.1% in 2023.
• Recent years have seen an average $803 billion going to climate finance, but developing countries require nearly $6 trillion by 2030.
• The rate of sea level rise has doubled in the last decade.
• 700 million people risk displacement from drought by 2030. 
• From 2030 and beyond, climate change will cause 250,000 deaths from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress every year.

As the planet heats up, every living thing is affected. Wildfires release massive amounts of carbon, causing dangerous levels of air pollution. Warmer oceans disrupt the food chain. Flooding destroys homes and takes lives.

4 Ways Solar Energy Fights Climate Change 

Around the world, manufacturers, farmers, and communities are adopting solar energy as a solution to climate change. It’s a sustainable, affordable, and reliable source of power that transforms livelihoods and safeguards our planet. Solar energy drives climate action in four primary ways: 

• Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Energy consumption causes two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions. Conventional energy sources release carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides into the air, warming the planet. Embracing alternatives like solar energy slashes these emissions.  
• Building resilience. The world’s poorest people suffer the greatest effects of climate change. Warmer temperatures kill crops, increase disease, cause disasters, and make escaping poverty even more challenging. Solar energy can provide electricity to underserved areas to power irrigation systems, electrify health clinics, and offer a lifeline during emergencies.
• Fueling the economy. Economic growth doesn’t have to harm our planet. Energy from the sun is already cheaper than coal, and the electricity from off-grid solar allows rural communities to grow their economies. The implementation of solar also creates jobs. These benefits reinforce greater use of climate-smart energy. 
• Greening global sectors. Transportation. Agriculture. Industry. These sectors all contribute to climate change. Solar energy changes that. Electric cars can be powered by clean energy grids. Crops can be watered with solar-powered irrigation systems. And factories can run on renewables. 

Innovations in Solar Technology for Climate Action

The fight against climate change is accelerating thanks to advances in solar technology. Modern solar panels are more efficient, durable, and versatile than ever, allowing energy generation in urban rooftops, rural villages, and even harsh desert environments. Floating solar farms help reduce water evaporation while providing clean energy, and bifacial panels capture sunlight from both sides to maximize output with minimal land use.

Smart solar grids can store and distribute energy where it’s needed most, even during extreme weather events. Solar-powered sensors monitor environmental conditions such as air quality, temperature, and soil moisture, helping communities and governments take timely climate-adaptive actions. These innovations show that solar energy is not just a replacement for fossil fuels—it’s a proactive tool for climate resilience.

The Danger After 1.5° C 

In 2015, 194 parties joined together to sign the Paris Agreement—a legally-binding accord that determines the future of our planet. The purpose is simple. Global temperatures must not rise above 1.5° C in this century. The best way to ensure that? Cut greenhouse gas emissions around the world.

If global temperatures rise above 1.5° C, the planet reaches a tipping point. Coral reefs will decline up to 90%. A drastic number of species risk extinction. And irreversible amounts of glacial ice will melt.

In 2021, scientists determined the global temperature is already 1.1° C higher than pre-industrial levels. Sea levels now rise 4.5 millimeters every year and 500 million people live in areas that experience desertification. Threats increase if that temperature continues to climb.

That’s the crisis we’re living in. As long as nations continue to emit greenhouse gasses, the Earth will get hotter. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides act as blankets that trap the sun’s rays. But it’s not too late to prevent the worst effects of climate change. If we reduce annual greenhouse emissions by 7.6% until 2030, we’ll meet the 1.5° cutoff.

When we replace polluting sectors with sustainable energies, we cut emissions at the source. Thanks to public climate finance, developing countries can leapfrog into a renewable future and experience greater economic development. A win-win for everyone.

Community-Led Solar Climate Initiatives

Solar energy empowers communities to take climate action locally. Around the world, community solar projects provide households, schools, and healthcare facilities with clean electricity, reducing reliance on polluting fuels. In rural and remote areas, solar-powered irrigation systems, cold storage, and water purification improve livelihoods while reducing environmental stress.

Communities also participate in climate monitoring using solar-powered sensors, helping track deforestation, air pollution, and temperature changes. Local engagement ensures energy solutions are tailored to community needs, strengthening social cohesion and environmental stewardship. By placing climate action in the hands of people, solar energy creates lasting, bottom-up solutions for global sustainability.

Looking Forward: Solar Energy and Climate Action

Climate change is the world’s biggest threat. Human activities cause widespread changes to our oceans, rainforests, and atmosphere. If we don’t take urgent action to curb our greenhouse emissions, global temperatures will rise 4.4° C by the end of the century.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Renewables, like solar, drive Goal 13 into reality. And shifting to a green economy means the world could gain $26 trillion by 2030. There’s only one obstacle—time. The window of climate action is still open. Now’s our best chance to save the planet.