We're already making progress in averting a climate disaster

Though we have a long way to go, the world is already making progress against climate change.

Renewables like wind and solar now make up 10% of the energy used around the world.

This is according to a new United Nations-backed report released March 24, with research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

If we hadn't started using these renewable energy sources, the researchers write in the report, we would have released 1.5 gigatonnes (GT) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere last year alone.

"That's about 15% of the gap that needs to be closed to stay within the 2 degree threshold or temperature increase," report co-editor Eric Usher, officer in charge of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, said in a press conference.

So we're 15% of the way to keeping the planet from rising 2 degrees Celsius, the temperature that experts agree will ward off the worst effects of climate change.

Now, 15% seems slight. But it's better than the doom and gloom we've heard about our environmental progress, which sometimes makes it sounds like we might be closer to 0%.

The world is finally starting to head in the right direction.

Last year, for the first time, the world invested more in renewable energy than in carbon-polluting fossil fuels like coal and oil, the report found.

Nearly every nation agreed to a landmark climate pact in Paris that will help us stay within that 2 degree threshold.

And developing countries are starting to lead the way, which is welcome news since the previous assumption was that nations like China and India would have to keep polluting and using fossil fuels if they were going to pull their people into an industrialized future.

In fact, China spent more on renewables than any other country last year, and its $103 billion investment in clean energy made up over one-third of the entire world's contribution.

Simply adding more renewable energy won't solve our climate crisis, though. Usher said energy will have to be more efficient, too. And we're going to have to develop better ways of storing power so we can make the most of solar and wind when it isn't sunny or windy outside.

Coal and natural gas power plants have long lifespans, too, so at some point, we'll probably have to bite the bullet and switch them over to renewables, leaving the rest of those natural resources in the ground.

Sure, we have a long way to go. But it's nice to know that we're making some progress.

Imagine what we can do when renewables go from 15% to 100% of our energy. It's no longer "if," but, "when?"