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Wind and solar power have become dramatically cheaper over the past year. Image Credit: Unsplash/American Public Power Association

This year has been a big one for clean, green energy – perhaps the biggest yet.

Click start to play today’s Word Search, where you can spot the word “renewable” to see where energy is headed in the future.

The US officially rejoined the Paris Agreement (it was one of US President Joe Biden’s first acts in office), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) selected the UAE to host the COP28 international climate conference in 2023.

Wind and solar power have become dramatically cheaper. And according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), 2021 could set an all-time record for new global renewable energy installations (almost 300 gigawatts, up from 260 in 2020, which had set a record at the time).

Still, despite all the progress, there exist some myths on the limitations of renewable energy.

For one, renewable energy grids are often considered to be unreliable. But countries that use renewable energy are already busting this myth. In Germany, for instance, renewables power nearly half the country’s electricity – and they have one of the most reliable grids in the world.

Another myth is that climate change does not have any economic impact. The UAE is planning to address the planetary and economic aftermath of climate change as two sides of the same coin, at COP28.

In fact, they have already launched a pathbreaking initiative – the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate – with the US, and the support of over 30 countries. The project is expected to see an $4 billion (Dh14.6 billion) investment into climate-smart agriculture and food systems over the next five years.

What’s next for renewable energy? Will more countries around the world embrace its clean, green potential? Play today’s Word Search and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.