Energy

Exxon knows renewables are cheaper, even if Trump doesn’t

The US is pushing fossil fuels at UN climate talks, but prices for clean energy have tumbled so fast even oil companies are investing in renewables

On their patron saint’s day, Polish miners pray for a decent future

Twenty kilometres from Cop24 climate talks in Katowice, mining trade unionists look to St Barbara, not Warsaw, Brussels or the UN, for answers to their struggles

Greenpeace threatens to sue coal utility in Poland

Activists are calling on PGE to phase out coal by 2030 and switch to clean energy, or face legal action

EU should target carbon dioxide removal as part of net-zero emissions strategy

Only an ambitious policy, backed by technologies that remove carbon from the air, can bring the EU in line with the Paris Agreement temperature goals

Polish government split over coal ahead of UN climate summit

The energy minister has published a statement in defence of coal, which was swiftly disavowed by the presidency of the upcoming Cop24 climate negotiations

Hungary wants end to coal power by 2030

‘Sky-rocketing’ EU carbon prices could mean Hungary is the first country in eastern Europe to set an exit date for the most polluting fossil fuel

Starmer: UK and EU green protections risk diverging under Brexit deal

Draft withdrawal agreement prompts calls for green watchdog to assume climate powers

UK called to explain no-deal Brexit impact on power prices

A House of Lords committee was unsatisfied by minister Claire Perry’s testimony last month

Energy

Renewable Energy

Spain, Europe’s second largest carmaker, plans combustion engine ban

Proposal put forward for country’s first climate law takes swipe at auto-industry, scraps fossil fuel subsidies and sets 2050 goal for 100% renewable power

Can Teresa Ribera transform Spain into a green champion?

Highly experienced minister offers a contrast after years of slow-walking the environmental transition, but admits there is more to do

Colorado governor-elect has US’ most ambitious renewable goal

Jared Polis’ promise to phase out fossil fuel electricity by 2040 would be the fastest target in any state, as the midterms returned mixed results on climate policy

Asian Development Bank signals end to ‘dirty’ coal finance

Falling renewable energy costs and a shadow carbon price are making coal power investments unviable, according to bank energy chief Yongping Zhai

Bill Gates throws new weight and cash into climate fight

In back-to-back events this week, the billionaire launched projects to slow global warming and limit the damage it causes

Modern bioenergy is critical to meeting global climate change goals

It is controversial and often overlooked, but bioenergy is the only renewable energy today that can supply all sectors, say Kimmo Tiilikainen and Fatih Birol

Brexit: What it means for UK-EU energy trade

The UK says it wants to keep ties with the EU energy market – but it’s complicated

Saudi Arabia eyes Ethiopian hydropower link to cut reliance on oil and gas

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s grid operator is studying the feasibility of a cable to Ethiopia, which would run through currently war-torn Yemen

Renewable energy

Fossil Fuels

Macron takes on motorists over diesel tax hike

The French president has defended increasing the tax on diesel to tackle air pollution, as drivers prepare to block the roads in protest

Gas companies face Californian wipe-out, say S&P, Moody’s

Ratings agencies say the state’s bid to go 100% renewable poses a ‘significant threat’ to gas generators’ credit stability

Christiana Figueres: ‘Coal is a public health emergency’

At the World Health Organization’s first global conference on air pollution, the former UN climate chief launches a campaign to tackle toxic emissions at source

Polish utility sued over financial risk of €1.2bn coal plant

Client Earth argues the Ostrołęka C power plant investment is a bad bet, putting the spotlight on Poland’s support for coal as it gears up to host UN climate talks

Kosovo turns to US after World Bank dumps coal plant

Prime minister Haradinaj met with US officials to discuss backing for project the World Bank recently said was uncompetitive with renewables

$UK court frees fracking protestors from 'excessive' prison sentences$

UK court frees fracking protestors from ‘excessive’ prison sentences

Three protesters were sentenced to jail for 2017 blockade, but court of appeal found that a community work order would have been appropriate

Fracking ‘part of a low carbon future’, says UK minister, as drilling restarts

Claire Perry requested a net-zero emissions probe on Monday but defended fracking, saying gas was ‘absolutely part of our future’

World Bank dumps Kosovo plant, ending support for coal worldwide

The Kosovo e Re lignite plant could not compete with renewables on price, said bank president Jim Yong Kim

Fossil Fuels

Nuclear energy

Brexit: Avoiding the nuclear fallout

UK government report card on replacing the EU’s atomic energy community shows progress, but no deal on March 29 still threatens power and medical supply

UK offers green assurances for no-deal Brexit

London says it will carry over EU emissions rules for cars, coolants and industrial plants even if it crashes out in March with no negotiated deal

US launches nuclear initiative to cut carbon with Canada, Japan, UK

While the Trump administration generally avoids discussion of climate change, it is participating in a coalition to promote “clean, reliable” nuclear power

Wind, solar costs undercut new coal plants in South Africa

Wind and solar power are 40% cheaper than new coal generation today, analysis of government data shows

Atomic politics: UK mends China links with Hinkley deal

Choosing your power source should come down science and economics, but as the UK’s Hinkley saga shows it’s also a deeply political game

Atomic shambles: UK nuclear plans need urgent rethink

Planned celebrations by the nuclear industry were cancelled last week following the shock decision to put the world’s largest electricity project on hold

Could every UK town have a small nuclear reactor?

Industry poll shows that backing from the UK government is seen as a beacon of hope for a new breed of small nuclear reactors

Can nuclear really deliver 25% of global electricity by 2050?

Despite a record-breaking year of global nuclear construction in 2015, a report by the industry recognises that it still faces unresolved problems and uncertainties

Nuclear Energy

Efficiency

UK government refuses to commit to EU clean energy targets after Brexit