Summary
Highlights
2026 is projected to be a significant year for clean energy with numerous large-scale projects completing. This includes the world's largest hybrid solar facility in the Philippines, major offshore wind farms in the USA and China, and substantial hydropower plants in Colombia and Ethiopia. Geothermal power is also expanding with innovative drilling techniques in the USA.
Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, will see its first transatlantic shipment in 2026, marking the start of a global supply chain. Saudi Arabia is building the world's largest green hydrogen plant. In Sweden, a pilot project demonstrates carbon-free steel production using green hydrogen and renewable energy, making it 25-40% cheaper than traditional methods.
The European Union will implement major environmental laws in 2026. The carbon border adjustment mechanism will impose a carbon tax on imported carbon-intensive goods, preventing 'carbon leakage' and ensuring fair competition for EU businesses. Additionally, a new law will come into force, banning products linked to deforestation from entering the EU, encouraging stronger deforestation laws globally.
The High Seas Treaty, a landmark agreement for global marine conservation, will take effect on January 17, 2026. This treaty allows UN member states to create marine protected areas in the two-thirds of the ocean not governed by any nation, providing tools to protect and manage these vital ecosystems.
The EU's AI Act will see further regulations implemented in 2026, focusing on high-risk AI tools used in sensitive areas like safety and law enforcement. On a positive note, AI is revolutionizing medicine. Crispr GPT, an AI for gene editing, will accelerate the development of life-saving drugs for genetic diseases, blood disorders, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.
mRNA vaccines are showing promising results in treating cancer, with a recent study demonstrating a near-doubling of survival rates for lung cancer patients. Numerous mRNA cancer vaccine projects are expected to advance in 2026. Similarly, significant breakthroughs in mRNA HIV vaccines indicate a realistic path towards a cure, with more trials anticipated.
Two new malaria vaccines are being rolled out across Africa in 2026, targeting countries with high burdens of the disease and significantly reducing the death rate. Global life expectancy, which has more than doubled in the last 120 years, is projected to continue increasing in 2026 due to ongoing advancements in healthcare.
The European Space Agency's unmanned Plato spacecraft will launch in December 2026 to search for Earth-like planets in habitable zones around sun-like stars. Additionally, the BepiColombo mission, a joint European and Japanese project, will reach Mercury in November 2026, after a seven-year journey, to conduct in-depth studies of the mysterious planet.
In November 2026, Laos, Nepal, and Bangladesh will graduate from the UN's list of least developed countries, reflecting their significant improvements in income, education, health, and economic sectors. This will boost their international image and attract more investment. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will further remove tariffs on January 1, 2026, strengthening Africa's economic position and fostering a single market.