Bill McKibben: Solar power offers hope in the climate fight, but political will lags

Environmentalist and writer Bill McKibben argues in a Guardian opinion piece that solar power represents one of the strongest tools available in the fight against climate change, even as political momentum to act on the crisis remains weak.

Writing as climate experts and world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations' annual climate discussions, McKibben notes that 2026 is on pace to set a new global temperature record, with 2027 expected to potentially break it as El Niño conditions intensify. He points to a string of recent climate-linked disasters, including European heatwaves and severe flooding in Nepal, as evidence of accelerating impacts.

McKibben, the founder of Third Act, an organization mobilizing people over 60 for climate action, calls on global leaders to commit to a clear target: providing clean, solar-powered energy for everyone by the end of the decade. He argues that despite the scale of the challenge and the difficulty of confronting powerful interests, expanding solar power offers a practical and achievable path forward.

The piece was published to coincide with the UN's annual climate gathering, where officials and researchers are assessing progress toward global emissions and clean energy targets.