Beyond the tipping point: Why the responsibility for the climate transition now lies with us

      Jacqueline van den Ende, CEO of Carbon Equity, asserts that we have already crossed the tipping point for the climate transition: “In the past year, 90% of all new global electricity production came from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower. Additionally, China is currently outpacing other countries in meeting its climate objectives,” she stated.

      This should not be a reason to relax; rather, van den Ende believes that increased investment in climate technology solutions is necessary to expedite the transition and ensure the accessibility of clean energy worldwide. However, European funding for climate tech dropped to a five-year low in the first quarter of 2025.

      In a recent episode of Kia’s Next Big Drive, van den Ende discusses how Carbon Equity is leveraging its platform to make climate finance more democratic, allowing individuals to invest in innovative climate tech companies.

      Watch the interview here:

      Europe seeks clean energy — and quickly

      Despite recent news, support for the energy transition is on the rise throughout Europe. Citizens are not just expressing their views but are also taking actions like reducing and recycling waste (64%) and minimizing their use of disposable items whenever possible (49%).

      Many are putting their financial support behind these efforts as well. The first half of 2025 marked a significant achievement for the European battery electric vehicle (BEV) market, with new registrations rising by 34% compared to the same period in 2024.

      According to the European Commission’s 2025 Eurobarometer survey:

      The emergence of energy communities

      Interest in forming what the EU refers to as "energy communities" has risen in recent years, with EU funding facilitating new community-led initiatives. By securing ownership over renewable energy production, these communities can shield residents from price volatility by providing stable and affordable power throughout the year.

      Denmark's Hvide Sande District benefitted from investments in a wind turbine-based energy network, an electric boiler, and heat pumps during the 2022 energy crisis. While energy prices skyrocketed across Europe, residents in this community experienced a reduction in heating costs of over 50%.

      Since 2015, Ireland’s Ecovision community has utilized profits from energy savings to establish a community fund that supports residents in accessing funding for energy efficiency renovations. To date, over 900 homes and 50 community or commercial buildings have been renovated, achieving a savings of over 10 GWh of energy, equivalent to the average annual electricity usage of more than 2,300 Irish households. All renovations are conducted through local contractors, bolstering the local economy.

      Recently, a town in Finland with a population of 5,000 introduced a sand battery that employs soil to store surplus renewable energy as heat. On sunny or windy days, the battery heats up, retaining energy for weeks or even months. The startup Polar Night, which developed the battery, estimates it can heat the entire town for a week in winter or a month in summer on a single charge.

      This pilot could initiate a new trend for communities looking to sustainably heat their homes and businesses.

      Addressing grid issues for more energy

      However, the Iberian-wide blackout on April 28th raised doubts, with some attributing it to the net-zero goals of Spain and Portugal. Just before the blackout, on April 16th, Spain reached a significant achievement by operating 100% on wind, solar, and hydro power for the first time.

      Our sustainability tech reporter, Siôn Geschwindt, based in Portugal, quickly covered this incident, interviewing climate tech experts who attributed the blackout to grid "growing pains" rather than a failure of green energy.

      “While wind and solar produce clean, inexpensive electricity, their output fluctuates with weather conditions. Traditional grids in Europe were primarily designed for more stable energy sources, such as coal, gas, or nuclear power,” explains Geschwindt. “Without that stabilizing element, or the inclusion of alternatives like battery storage, the grid becomes increasingly susceptible to fluctuations in electricity supply or demand.”

      Experts, including those from Carbon Equity portfolio company Octopus Energy, emphasize the importance of updating the grid to enhance its flexibility for the transition. South Australia faced a similar blackout in 2016, leading to improvements in its grid through the introduction of:

      - Smarter demand response systems

      - Modernized grid configurations

      - Increased backup battery capacity

      By 2023, South Australia achieved 64% renewable electricity with no major outages.

      Batteries on wheels

      The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) could significantly reduce CO2 emissions, but it may also increase the demand for green energy. Nevertheless, automakers are preparing for a future where vehicles will serve a greater role in the energy ecosystem.

      The interview between van den Ende and TNW founder Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten took place in Kia’s fully electric EV9, the first model to feature vehicle-to-grid technology and bidirectional charging, enabling it to store energy from renewable