Renewables
China prioritises employment over GDP growth in coronavirus recovery
Climate watchers are cautiously hopeful Beijing will not turn to polluting infrastructure to rebuild the economy, but specific assurances are lacking
Denmark proposes two huge ‘energy islands’ to meet 2030 climate target
With a total capacity of 4GW, offshore wind power hubs in the North and Baltic Seas are to help the country cut emissions by 70% in the next decade
Spain unveils climate law to cut emissions to net zero by 2050
The government hopes the draft law, which would ban all new coal, oil and gas projects with immediate effect, will shape the recovery effort to Covid-19
Coronavirus lockdown speeds India’s shift from coal to solar power
Renewable energy sources are proving resilient in the Covid-19 crisis, while analysts say coal power capacity could peak this decade
Renewables most resilient to Covid-19 lockdown measures, says IEA
While demand for all sources of energy has been hit by the response to coronavirus, solar and wind generators are best placed to weather the crisis
UN development chief calls for green shift away from ‘irrational’ oil dependence
Governments, at a fork in the road because of the Covid-19 pandemic, should ‘insert the DNA’ of a low-carbon future into stimulus packages, says Achim Steiner
South Korea to implement Green New Deal after ruling party election win
Seoul is to set a 2050 net zero emissions goal and end coal financing, after the Democratic Party’s landslide victory in one of the world’s first Covid-19 elections
Japan’s woeful climate plan amounts to science denial
Japan reiterates past pledges for 2030 rather than mapping out a radical overhaul needed by the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter
Electric cars help limit climate change despite blackspots in India, Poland
Study shows it makes sense to drive an electric car in most of the world including in China and the US rather than stick to petrol, diesel engines
‘Historic opportunity’ – Climate Weekly
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Governments have ‘historic opportunity’ to accelerate clean energy transition, IEA says
IEA head Fatih Birol is calling on heads of state and international financial institutions to make coronavirus recovery plans sustainable
South Korea urged to exit coal by 2029 to stick to Paris climate agreement
Climate Analytics research group calls on Seoul to phase out existing coal-fired power plants, stop new construction and halt funds for coal projects in other Asian nations
One million solar panels! If only we knew where they were…
Pinpointing solar panels and knowing exactly where the sun is shining can cut carbon emissions by reducing the need to keep fossil-fueled generators on standby
‘Miles off track’ – Climate Weekly
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Offshore wind deployment boom ‘too slow’ to meet EU climate target
Europe needs between 230 and 450 GW of offshore wind by 2050 to decarbonise its energy system, according to the EU Commission
European Union climate investment lags behind US and China
The European Investment Bank warns the EU needs to make “a tremendous effort” to develop a comprehensive climate strategy, putting investment at its core
As rich countries slow walk green finance, Putin offers Africa an alternative
Two summits in one week presented a choice for African leaders: stalled promises of climate finance in Paris or business deals in Sochi
‘New Bretton Woods’ needed to fix global system and climate: outgoing UN official
As she steps down from leading UN sustainable energy push, Rachel Kyte said global institutions must be rebuilt and aligned with action on climate change
European Investment Bank moots fossil fuel lending ban
The world’s largest development bank proposed a pivot to clean energy, in a draft plan for consideration by EU finance ministers in September
Zimbabweans work at night to beat hydropower shortage as drought bites
Low water levels at Kariba Dam mean power cuts lasting 16 hours a day in capital Harare, making it difficult for businesses to survive