Energy
Can Brazil green its energy without mega dams?
Human rights violations, drought risk and now corruption are undermining the case for hydropower. Environment minister José Sarney Filho is making the case for change
Offshore wind sees EU building boom
Falling costs mean that power generated by offshore wind farms is becoming increasingly competitive with other fuels – and that’s good news for the climate
Carbon capture axe casts shadow over UK energy plans
Decision to scrap technology funds will hike the cost of meeting UK 2050 climate target, warns spending watchdog amid Brexit uncertainty
1% finished: Facebook reveals 2015 carbon footprint
Social media giant gets 35% of electricity for its data centres from clean and renewable sources, ahead of target
Does Glencore’s business model work in a 2C world?
Coal producers face an uncertain future. Demand will grow in some parts of the world, in others it will fall. Business needs to be ready for both eventualities
Global gold lust driving rise in mining emissions
Lure of mining for precious metals in South America and Europe is creating new carbon emissions not controlled by international agreement
Fracking will blow UK carbon goals without stricter rules
Government advisers also say more action would be needed to cut emissions in other areas to cope with full-scale fracking, reports the Guardian
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
Banks urged to blacklist Czech coal guzzler EPH
NGOs tell Citibank, HSBC and JP Morgan they are undermining climate policy by financing fossil fuel spree
Offshore wind costs hit record low
Two 350MW arrays in the Netherlands will supply power at €87/MWh, beating the next cheapest project by miles
IEA: China is building a third of Africa’s new power capacity
Chinese state-owned companies are increasingly active in sub-Saharan Africa and dominate the hydropower dam business
Mind the gap: Financing Africa’s energy boom
A solar entrepreneur struggles to get finance, while a minister defends a superfluous LNG terminal at London’s Africa Energy Forum
Paris climate deal needs fossil fuel giants to ‘implode’
Research shows that a “controlled implosion” of the fossil fuel industry and a technological explosion of renewable energy are needed to meet climate targets
India’s solar plans receive billion dollar boost
World Bank loan comes off back of major funding pledges from US and Germany as major economies try and wean Delhi off coal
US, Canada, Mexico agree climate partnership
The “three amigos” set targets to get half of electricity from clean sources and cut methane emissions 40-45% by 2025
Could solar meet 13% of global power demand by 2030?
Cratering costs that seemed implausible only a few years ago are driving the fast expansion of solar, say analysts at the International Renewable Energy Agency
Time for divestment and oil subsidy campaigns to join forces?
Investors are less likely to divest if governments continue to prop up the sector with rampant subsidies, aid and investments
Glencore sees strong coal demand despite climate policies
Power plant pipeline will ensure coal assets are not stranded, says Switzerland-based commodity and trading company in first major climate report
Sweden faces climate test as voters oppose brown coal sale
Opinion poll shows half the Swedish population opposes selling Vattenfall’s German mines and power plants to Czech firm EPH
How women could benefit from fuel subsidy reform
Subsidies often don’t help women much at all and reforms provide an opportunity to better target support