Energy

EU Parliament urges ECB to put climate at heart of strategy review

European lawmakers have endorsed a parliamentary resolution calling on the ECB to assess how the bank can contribute to the continent’s climate policies

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

Shipping could raise ambition of 2030 climate target, study shows

Research also shows that a Japanese proposal to cut CO2 by installing engine power limitation devices on ships would not deliver meaningful emissions reduction

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

‘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

IMO under pressure to regulate new ship fuels over Arctic warming

New marine fuels introduced at the start of January could lead to an increase of the shipping sector’s climate impacts

‘Trundling over to Africa’ – Climate Weekly

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Energy

Renewable Energy

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

AIIB must stop backing gas in climate-hit Bangladesh

The Beijing-headquartered development bank is skewed towards fossil fuels, when it should be helping poorer countries access clean renewable power

Europe’s largest solar plant unveiled amid Spanish renewable rebirth

€300 million investment plan comes amid buoyant optimism for Spain’s long suffering solar sector

Australian voters can’t trust the Coalition on climate and energy

The current government has only shown contempt for meaningful climate policy and renewable energy – why would they change now?

Renewable energy

Fossil Fuels

Trump criticises ‘prophets of doom’ in Davos and touts fossil fuels

Trump, Thunberg set out radically different visions for the economy and climate in the 21st century

UK to stop funding coal abroad but will help Africa with oil, gas

The UK largely stopped financing new coal mines overseas in the early 2000s but spent billions of public funds supporting oil and gas projects abroad since then

Germany agrees pay-out to states and companies in coal phase-out deal

The federal government has struck a deal with the country’s coal-producing regions to phase out hard coal by 2035

Climate change tops risks for world in 2020 – Davos report

Extreme weather, climate action failure, natural disasters, biodiversity loss and human-made environmental disasters top most likely risks to the global economy

China-backed coal plants on EU’s doorstep hide huge carbon costs

Feasibility studies for two major coal power projects in Bosnia and Serbia – backed by Chinese banks – downplay the costs of emissions and ignore air and water pollution

We won’t let Germany build a new coal power plant

German activists plan in 2020 to block Datteln 4, the only coal power plant under construction in Western Europe, and push Berlin to exit coal

Finally saying the F-words at UN climate talks

International negotiations have always focused on carbon emissions, not the coal, oil and gas that create them. That’s changing

The UN climate talks can tackle fossil fuels head-on: here’s how

The UN process has largely ignored the production of fossil fuels. That can, and must, change

Fossil Fuels

Nuclear energy

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

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

US launches nuclear initiative to cut carbon with Canada, Japan, UK

While the Trump administration generally avoids discussion of climate change, it is participating in a coalition to promote “clean, reliable” nuclear power

Wind, solar costs undercut new coal plants in South Africa

Wind and solar power are 40% cheaper than new coal generation today, analysis of government data shows

Atomic politics: UK mends China links with Hinkley deal

Choosing your power source should come down science and economics, but as the UK’s Hinkley saga shows it’s also a deeply political game

Atomic shambles: UK nuclear plans need urgent rethink

Planned celebrations by the nuclear industry were cancelled last week following the shock decision to put the world’s largest electricity project on hold

Nuclear Energy

Efficiency

EU 'climate leaders' plans found lacking