Fossil Fuels
Lessons from talking climate with Albertan oil workers
In Canada’s most oil-rich province, workers are more open to “diversification” than “transition” away from the industry they are proud to serve
Alberta’s oil production cut shows the Keystone XL protest worked
Widely dismissed as a symbolic victory in 2015, the blocking of a major pipeline project has forced Canada’s oil patch to limit its output, vindicating activists
Ireland needs new oil and gas fields to ease reliance on Brexit UK, say drillers
Oil and gas explorers are gearing up to drill offshore Ireland in a bid to boost its energy independence from Britain
UK tells fracking industry it won’t relax rules on earth tremors
The Conservative government has long backed shale gas exploration, but denied industry calls to loosen ‘unworkable’ limits on seismic activity
Germany can end coal power much earlier than 2038
The market can deliver much faster end to coal power than proposed last week, but it needs a confident signal from the German government
Germany to quit coal by 2038, under commission proposal
After late-night talks, a dedicated commission has agreed a timetable to phase out coal burning in Europe’s largest economy
Coal phase-out will increase German need for gas, says Merkel
Under pressure to block a gas pipeline from Russia and end coal power, the chancellor tied their fates together
EU reaches coal subsidy phase-out deal – with caveat for Poland
In late-night talks, negotiators agreed to end backdoor subsidies to coal generators, with some leeway for the most coal-dependent member state
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
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
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
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
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
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
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