30 Oct 2025 10:00
214: Why Renewables Are Beating Fossil Fuels on Cost with Dr. Gernot Wagner
Fact: According to an IRENA report on Reuters from mid-July, over 90% of new renewable projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. Solar is 41% cheaper, and onshore wind is 53% cheaper than fossil fuel energy. The consumers are speaking up, and market dynamics are pushing the growth of renewables. In this episode of A Climate Change, host Matt Mattern speaks with Dr. Gernot Wagner, climate economist at Columbia Business School, and author of Climate Shock, to unpack how economics and policy are reshaping the global energy transition.
They discuss why renewables like wind and solar are now cheaper than fossil fuels despite political headwinds, how carbon pricing systems, from California to Uruguay, drive emissions cuts, and why electrifying buildings offers the fastest decarbonisation gains.
Dr. Wagner also explores the promise of green hydrogen for industry, the rise of small modular nuclear reactors, and the strategic need for domestic solar manufacturing. This insightful conversation reveals how market forces and smart policy design can accelerate the shift to cleaner, more affordable, and resilient energy systems.
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Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/@aclimatechange/?sub_confirmation=1
Dr. Gernot Wagner Bio
Dr. Gernot Wagner is a climate economist at Columbia Business School and faculty director of the Climate Knowledge Initiative. He is the author of several influential books, including Climate Shock and Geoengineering: The Gamble. A leading voice in climate policy and clean energy economics, Dr. Wagner frequently contributes to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Project Syndicate, offering practical, data-driven insights on how markets and policy can accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
Episode Resources
