Solar’s Global Rise and China’s Energy Leadership — A Conversation with Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben joins The Way Forward to explore the rapid rise of solar energy and China’s commanding role in the clean energy economy. Drawing from his latest book Here Comes the Sun, McKibben shares how the solar revolution is reshaping global dynamics — from the shift away from fossil fuels to the acceleration of decentralized power — and why local action still holds the key to a regenerative future.

In this episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, environmental leader Bill McKibben reveals the remarkable—and largely untold—story behind the global solar energy boom. Drawing from his new book Here Comes the Sun, McKibben explains how solar has moved from the margins to become the world’s cheapest, fastest-growing energy source, reshaping geopolitics, economics, and the fight for a livable planet.

We explore why the transition is accelerating so quickly, how China surged ahead in clean-energy manufacturing, what’s blocking progress in the U.S., and why decentralized energy strengthens both democracy and community resilience. McKibben makes a powerful case that the most impactful climate action isn’t individual—it’s collective organizing to change policy and scale solutions that match the crisis.

This is a conversation about speed, possibility, and the decisive decade ahead—and why a sun-powered world is much closer than we think.

Bill McKibben—author, journalist, and founder of 350.org and Third Act—is one of the world’s most influential climate voices. His new book, Here Comes the Sun, charts the extraordinary rise of solar power and what it means for the future.

Themes

• Solar is exploding globally—faster than anyone expected.
• Renewables are now the cheapest energy on Earth.
• China is dominating clean-energy manufacturing.
• Batteries and virtual power plants are transforming the grid.
• Collective action—not individual consumption—is what shifts systems.

UPCOMING LIVE EVENT

THE CLIMATE CROSSROADS – December 2, Live Online

A powerhouse panel with Bill McKibben, Dr. Rupert Read, and Brian McLaren, moderated by Dr. John Izzo as they explore what it will take to move from paralysis to action. Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action, and The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, this 90-minute event blends moral clarity with practical hope.

🗓 December 2 8–9:30 AM PST | 11–12:30 PM EST | 4–5:30 PM GMT 📍 Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action & The Way Forward Podcast 🔗 Register here: https://shorturl.at/hNYKg

Also visit and register at our Sutra to have an interactive experience with our 3 guests. Climate Crossroads Sutra

The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is hosted by Dr. John Izzo & Alain Gauthier and produced by Jim Burke. 📺 Watch on [YouTube] https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc| 🎧 Listen on [Apple Podcasts] podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-forward-regenerative-conversations/id1651941803| 🌍 Connect with us: [Website] https://wayforwardpodcast.com/

• 🌿 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors This episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is made possible through the generous support of Elders Action Network (EAN) https://eldersaction.org/ (Elders Action Network) and Elders Climate Action (ECA) https://eldersaction.org/ (Elders Action Network. These organizations are dedicated to empowering elders to take collective action for a thriving, just, and sustainable future. We’re deeply grateful for their leadership and for modeling what it means to be regenerative elders in action.