Wind turbines and solar panels produced a record 10% of global electricity in the first half of 2020, following the decline of coal-fired power plants, but deeper changes are needed to meet the targets set under the Paris Climate Change Agreement of 2015, is shown in a study of the climate consulting company Ember, Reuters reports.

Generation of electricity from renewable sources (wind and solar energy) increased by 14% in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2019, while production from coal-fired power plants decreased by 8.3%, according to the Ember report.

Overall, electricity demand fell by 3% in the first half of 2020, due to global measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). However, coal-fired power plants still produced 33 percent of global electricity in the first six months of this year, Ember analysts say, according to Agerpres.

The largest contribution from the generation of electricity from renewable sources (wind and solar energy) was made in the first half of the year by Europe and the United Kingdom, by 21% and 33%, respectively, while the contributions of China and the USA were of 10% and 12%, respectively. Coal-fired power generation in the US and Europe fell by 31% and 32%, respectively, whilst in China – by only 2%, the report said.

It includes data from 48 countries, which produce up to 83% of electricity globally.