Energy

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

‘Inverse Opec’: Kamala Harris plan to wind down oil production awaits its moment

The proposal to negotiate a managed decline of fossil fuels is politically and diplomatically sensitive but finds support among a handful of climate leaders

Kamala Harris is right to propose a managed decline of fossil fuel production

If Joe Biden is serious about tackling climate change, he should adopt his running mate’s plan to negotiate an international deal to leave oil in the ground

South Africa aims to reach net zero emissions in 2050 – while still burning coal

In a low emissions strategy, South Africa flagged an aspiration to become a net zero economy by 2050, but its energy plan foresees a continued role for coal

Energy companies keep right to sue states in private courts, as treaty reforms blocked

Fossil fuel investors can continue to sue governments secretly when climate policies hurt their profits, as EU lacks support for Energy Charter Treaty overhaul

Asian multilateral bank promises to end coal-related financing

AIIB president says he will not finance ‘any projects that are functionally related to coal’, but has yet to reflect that in the Beijing-based bank’s written policies

France seeks German collaboration on hydrogen in EU green recovery

The EU’s biggest economies are investing billions of euros in building clean hydrogen fuel capacity to decarbonise heavy industry and transport

Energy

Renewable Energy

Countries promise green recovery at Japanese virtual summit, keep quiet on fossil bailouts

Ministers from China, EU and other major economies outlined plans to build back better after the coronavirus pandemic at a meeting convened by Japan

Guterres tells India coal business ‘going up in smoke’ as investors back clean tech

UN chief urges Narendra Modi not to expand India’s coal sector, warning of harmful consequences for human health, the environment and the economy

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Green shift urged to revive Brazil’s economy and shield Amazon forests

President Bolsonaro could rebuild the economy faster after Covid-19 by making low-carbon growth a pillar of recovery, international study says

Wind, solar generate 10% of world electricity, doubling share since 2015

Coal falls to 33% of electricity generation in the first half of 2020, hit by declines in US and EU as Covid-19 cuts world power demand

India’s solar boom is threatened by anti-China trade tariffs

The Indian government is doubling down on import taxes for solar modules from China, but domestic manufacturing is not ready to fill the gap

For all its green talk, the IEA still gives comfort to oil and gas producers

Under Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency leads talk of a green recovery, yet dodges hard questions about phasing out dirty energy

Renewables overtake fossil fuels in EU electricity generation

Wind and solar produced a record fifth of the European Union’s electricity during the first half of the year – a trend accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic

Renewable energy

Fossil Fuels

Prospect of snap election reanimates Canada’s carbon tax battle

As prime minister Justin Trudeau calls for a green recovery from coronavirus, the Conservative opposition promises to fight a levy on polluters

South Africa tightens restrictions for new coal power in ‘landmark’ ruling

A top tribunal scrapped water licences for the 600MW Khanyisa coal plant, saying the developer had failed to consider the impact of climate change

Bangladesh considers scrapping 90% of its coal power pipeline

The energy minister has signalled a major pivot away from Chinese-funded coal plants in Bangladesh, but this is not yet government policy

Guterres confronts China over coal boom, urging a green recovery

China’s provinces have overseen a coal plant building spree in the first half of the year, in a bid to revive the Covid pandemic-hit economy

Seven countries back Africa’s biggest investment, a $20 billion gas project

US, Japan and the UK are among the backers of a scheme to exploit Mozambique’s gas reserves, despite climate, security and human rights concerns

No time for loopholes: Japan must immediately end all overseas coal finance

Environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi promised to scrap funds for dirty power plants abroad, but the government is making too many exceptions

Portugal ends coal burning two years ahead of schedule

Portugal is the third EU country this year to announce early closure of its last coal plants, as rising carbon costs and competition from gas and clean energy bite

Gas curse: Mozambique’s multi-billion dollar gamble on LNG

A vast gas discovery promises riches for the people of Mozambique, but it can only pay off in a dangerously overheated world

Fossil Fuels

Nuclear energy

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

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

Campaigners urge African Union to stop fossil fuel proliferation on continent

In a communique, African civil society called on leaders meeting in Ethiopia to ‘rapidly initiate a transition to clean and safe renewable sources of energy’ for all

In depth: The EU’s plan to become the first climate-neutral continent

CHN’s media partner EURACTIV takes a look at the ‘king of policies’ that will define Europe’s future, just as the EU finally looks ready to adopt it

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

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

Brexit: Avoiding the nuclear fallout

UK government report card on replacing the EU’s atomic energy community shows progress, but no deal on March 29 still threatens power and medical supply

UK offers green assurances for no-deal Brexit

London says it will carry over EU emissions rules for cars, coolants and industrial plants even if it crashes out in March with no negotiated deal

Nuclear Energy

Efficiency

Spain unveils climate law to cut emissions to net zero by 2050