Climate Week NYC 2026 highlighted two key challenges: renewable energy is growing fast but still can't meet corporate demand, and carbon removal needs state support as federal action stalls. RE100 data shows companies now source 59% of electricity from renewables, up from 53%, but markets like South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore lag badly. Global additions hit a record 692 GW in 2025, yet IRENA says we need about 1,122 GW annually to hit the 2030 tripling goal. Grid connections, permitting, and procurement remain bottlenecks. On carbon removal, states are stepping in. California funds direct air capture demonstrations, Washington allows CDR offsets in its cap-and-invest program, and Massachusetts is studying options. The State of CDR report projects a 1.2 billion tonne gap by 2035 and 5.2 billion by 2050. The message: technology alone isn't enough. We need demand, long-term contracts, and clear rules to scale both renewable supply and carbon removal into real markets.
