Europe Is Losing Its Reputation as a Renewable Energy Leader

  • Clean energy investment in Europe slipped 21% last year
  • China and other Asian economies surpassing Europe and U.S.

The sun sets beyond wind turbines near Fjerritslev, Denmark.

Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
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Europe is losing its status as a global leader in clean energy, with investment in the region plummeting 21 percent last year, while spending in the rest of the world boomed.

A record $328.9 billion was invested worldwide in solar, wind and other renewable energy sources in 2015, according to a report released Tuesday by REN 21, an international coalition of governments, renewable energy trade associations and financial institutions including the World Bank Group. Spending in Europe was $48.8 billion, down from $62 billion a year earlier.