S&P Global released its annual report on sustainability trends, forecasting that 2026 will be characterized by diverging regional approaches to energy and climate policy. The firm expects regional action to replace unified global efforts.
The report highlights a growing tension between short-term priorities—specifically energy security and affordability—and long-term decarbonization objectives. S&P Global suggests companies and governments will face a more politically complex phase balancing these competing interests.
Despite continued growth in renewables, S&P Global expects a critical shift in solar capacity additions. The firm forecasts 2026 will mark the first year-over-year decline in global solar capacity. This reduction is largely driven by a slowdown in China.
No significant market reaction to the report's release was noted.