Energy
Another blow for giant Australian coal mine as rail company steps back
Freight company Aurizon has withdrawn its application for a federal loan to build a rail line to link proposed coal mines with ports on the coast
Oil majors to face London, New York hearings over Philippines climate impact
Philippines human rights commissioner says taking hearings overseas will afford the 47 companies the best chance to confront the impacts of their businesses
Greenpeace appeals Norway Arctic oil drilling case
Campaigners plan to take their bid to block Arctic oil exploration licences to Norway’s supreme court, after a district court dismissed their case
Chile declares start of coal power phase-out
President Michelle Bachelet says the country will not build new coal plants without carbon capture and begin talks to replace existing capacity with cleaner sources
Trump solar tariff ‘will cause disruption’, says UN renewable chief
Energy leaders in Davos were critical of trade intervention the US solar industry said could cause 23,000 job losses
Tesla’s South Australian super battery beats expectations for first month
The world’s largest lithium ion battery has brought much needed flexibility to the grid, encouraging other states to follow suit
UK government details coal power phase-out strategy
With a few caveats, Britain is set to end coal power generation by 2025, the government confirmed in a consultation response on Friday
Norwegian campaigners lose court case against Arctic oil drilling
Oslo district court told Greenpeace and co-plaintiffs exploration for new reserves did not violate citizens’ constitutional right to a healthy environment
Libya burns dirty oil for electricity as Islamic State disrupts gas plans
Amid conflict since Muammar Gaddafi was deposed in 2011, gas pipelines have been shelved, leaving two new power plants reliant on burning crude
Trump seeks pro-coal alliance as global push against fuel grows
While leaders gather in Paris to celebrate the second anniversary of global climate pact, Trump official says US wants to form group of countries to promote “clean” coal
‘Tsunami of data’ could consume one fifth of global electricity by 2025
Billions of internet-connected devices could produce 3.5% of global emissions within ten years and 14% by 2040, new research will find
To phase out coal, world leaders should learn from tobacco action
A few countries are set to join the coal phase-out club at the One Planet Summit in Paris on Tuesday, but more levers will be needed to bring major coal users in line
China reverses coal ban after gas shortage leaves residents freezing
After an anti-air pollution drive left many without heat, China’s government has relaxed a ban on coal across 28 northern cities
Remake Puerto Rico’s power grid and create a universal basic income
While any move away from fossil fuels is welcome, we need to think bigger about what resilience could mean for Puerto Rico
Communities face down plans to expand Britain’s last coal mines
‘It was cruel what we went through’. As the UK weighs whether to allow its ailing mines to stumble on, community activists ask when enough is enough?
Australia: Labor victory a ‘death knell for Adani’ coal mine
Queensland Labor looks certain to form government promising to veto a public loan, observers say that puts the southern hemisphere’s biggest coal project in serious doubt
EU commission urged bank to support Azerbaijan gas pipeline
Letter from top officials to the president of the EIB said Europe’s commitment to the pipeline ‘must not wane’ and called for publicly-backed loans
German Greens reveal coal phase-out red line for joining government
The Green Party will only join a coalition promising to close at least 7GW of coal power capacity by 2020, its lawmakers say, as Germany likely faces another election
Let’s ban car advertising to protect public health
Public health hazards like smoking commonly face advertising restrictions. Simon Dalby of Wilfrid Laurier University asks why we don’t do the same for climate change
Former UN climate chief lobbies against $1bn loan to Australian coal train
Christiana Figueres warns subsidising Adani’s controversial Carmichael mega-mine would damage Australia’s reputation abroad