Research from energy think tank Ember has revealed renewable energy has overtaken coal as the world's biggest source of electricity for the first time.
The data, covering the first half of this year, demonstrates a growing demand around the world for electricity, with solar and wind energy covering 100% of the increase and driving a slight overall drop in coal and gas use.
But while nations such as China lead the way in converting to renewable energy, the likes of the US and EU are heading in the opposite direction, relying on fossil fuel electricity generation more than previously.
In the US, the demand for electricity grew faster than green energy output, while in the EU, renewable energy was hampered by weak wind and hydropower performance.
China added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined, the BBC reports, outpacing demand and slashing fossil fuel reliance by 2%.
Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Ember's senior analyst, said data "marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth".
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