In recent years, many optimistic narratives have overstated the impact of renewables on fossil fuel consumption. The reality is more sobering: renewables are not displacing fossil fuels—especially in non-OECD countries and energy-intensive sectors. They’re growing fast, but they’re still playing catch-up with rising global energy demand. That is a key takeaway from the 2025 Statistical Review of World Energy. Yes, renewable energy posted impressive gains in 2024. But it still wasn’t enough to bend the curve on global fossil…