Fossil Fuels
UK net zero commitment questioned, as government allows new coal mine
The UK government has been accused of “rank hypocrisy” for letting a new coal mine go ahead while seeking to lead on climate as hosts of Cop26 summit
Shell faces Dutch court in case testing how Paris climate goals apply to businesses
Climate campaigners say Shell is violating human rights by continuing to invest billions in fossil fuels, calling for a much faster shift to clean energy
Pakistan signals coal power exit, in potential model for China’s belt and road
Imran Khan announced his government would not approve any more coal power plants and pivot to renewables, contrary to the grid operator’s forecast of a coal boom
Why the hydrogen bubble could burst in Europe’s face
The EU’s enthusiastic embrace of hydrogen risks undermining the clean energy transition and its newly-minted 2030 greenhouse gas target
We have set an end date for oil and gas production. The world should follow
We, Costa Rica and Denmark, are moving beyond oil. To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, we encourage friends and allies to do the same
Czech commission calls for coal phase-out by 2038
Environmental groups, which urged the commission to endorse a 2033 end date, slammed the decision as ‘absurdly late’, while studies show a 2030 exit is feasible
Denmark to phase out oil and gas production by 2050 in “watershed” decision
The EU’s largest oil producer has agreed to cancel new oil and gas licences and wind down production, in a bid for climate leadership
China’s environment ministry floats ‘ban’ on coal power investment abroad
A Chinese government-commissioned report proposes stricter environmental standards for “belt and road” investments, but it needs buy-in from financial institutions
Coal, oil and gas production to blow climate targets despite pandemic dip, report warns
UN-backed Production Gap report projects a 2% annual rise in global fossil fuel output this decade, when 6% cuts are needed in line with a 1.5C warming limit
Russia resists tougher climate targets in dash for Arctic gas
Russia has no plans to end its contribution to climate change before the end of the century and is aggressively expanding Arctic gas production for the Asian market
Asian net zero wave leaves Australia’s Scott Morrison isolated
While China, Japan and South Korea set net zero emissions targets and polls show strong support for Australia to follow, Morrison is standing by the coal industry
Philippines declares moratorium on new coal power plants
The move could scrap 8GW of planned coal projects which haven’t been fully approved, sending a strong signal to investors in the region coal is out of favour
Who will build the world’s last coal plant?
Banks, companies and governments are axing support for coal, driven by climate concerns and competition from renewables, but hundreds of plants are still in planning
World Bank branch indirectly backs coal megaproject despite green pledge
International Finance Corporation piloted its green equity policy with an Indonesian bank, which went on to fund a 2,000 MW coal complex
Poland’s largest utility announces pivot from coal to renewables
PGE has announced a strategy to go 100% renewable by 2050, but it depends on passing responsibility for coal mines to another Polish state-owned entity
EU considers crackdown on methane leaks from imported oil and gas
An EU methane emissions standard would put pressure on suppliers like Russia and Algeria to stop polluting gas leaks and venting, but proposals lack detail
South Korea pursues Vietnamese coal plant, drawing international criticism
A decision by state-owned utility Kepco to invest in Vung Ang 2 coal power station goes against the government’s “green new deal” rhetoric
Saudi-led G20 energy statement backs fossil fuel bailouts
Neglecting to mention climate change or commitments to end fossil fuel subsidies, G20 energy ministers focused on stabilising the oil market
Poland agrees coal mining phase out with unions by 2049
Agreeing an end date for coal mining is a big step for Polish trade unions, but climate experts say 2049 is too late and Brussels won’t agree to state aid plans
5 burning questions about China’s carbon neutrality pledge
It is the biggest climate policy milestone since the Paris Agreement in 2015, but the strength of China’s carbon neutrality pledge depends on these key details