Low carbon energy transition making some progress in Europe

Austria and Sweden have each unplugged their last coal-fired power station from the grid. This is a major step forward in the low-carbon energy transition. Encouragingly, at least a dozen more European nations plan to abandon coal power by the end of the decade. Now let’s see if that can happen more quickly. Oliver Moody … Continue reading Low carbon energy transition making some progress in Europe →

Coal power developers risk wasting hundreds of billions of pounds as new renewable sources are now cheaper than new coal plants

Roger Harrabin discusses the results of a new report by Carbon Tracker in an article on the BBC website, showing how renewables are now cheaper than new coal plants. Coal power developers 'risk wasting billions' Coal power developers risk wasting hundreds of billions of pounds as new renewable sources are now cheaper than new … Continue reading Coal power developers risk wasting hundreds of billions of pounds as new renewable sources are now cheaper than new coal plants →

Many Asian countries’ existing and expanding dependence on coal power is undermining international efforts to fight greenhouse gas emissions

Harry Cockburn writes on The Independent website about the dependence on coal power in many Asian countries. Renewable sources are struggling to compete with cheap coal amid surge in demand. Asia's growing coal use could negate global climate change progress, UN says Many Asian countries’ existing and expanding dependence on coal power is undermining … Continue reading Many Asian countries’ existing and expanding dependence on coal power is undermining international efforts to fight greenhouse gas emissions →

America’s low-carbon energy transition supported by major insurer turning its back on global coal industry

The US insurer Chubb becomes the latest to make pledge as risks of climate crisis become clearer. Jillian Ambrose explains in an article in The Guardian. US insurer Chubb to stop investing in or selling policies to coal firms Chubb will become the first US insurer to turn its back on the global coal industry … Continue reading America’s low-carbon energy transition supported by major insurer turning its back on global coal industry →

Kentucky’s low-coal energy transition

Over the past five years, the state has made its first significant shift away from coal power, first to natural gas and now increasingly to renewable energy. Matt Mencarini explains in an article on the Louisville Courier Journal website. With or without Green New Deal, Kentucky's energy future is heading away from coal Coal … Continue reading Kentucky’s low-coal energy transition →

Concerns about the energy transition in EU’s neighbours

At a time when the EU strives to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, coal still represents more than half of electricity across much of the Western Balkans and other EU neighbouring countries, writes Janez Kopač, director of the Energy Community Secretariat on the Euractiv website. Making things worse, coal plants are intensively supported … Continue reading Concerns about the energy transition in EU’s neighbours →

Energy transition underway in Asia

The low-carbon energy transition includes many important choices for the future. Ben Smee and Daniel Hurst write in The Guardian that Japan has made an important choice. Australia’s largest export customer for thermal coal is scrapping plans to build power plants. Energy analysts forecast 'the end of coal' in Asia as Japanese investors back … Continue reading Energy transition underway in Asia →

Looking at Poland’s energy transition

Poland, host of the upcoming COP24 climate conference, has long had a love affair with coal. Can it say goodbye and commit to renewables? Irene Banos Ruiz discusses these transition issues in an article from Deutsche Welle. Can Poland end its toxic relationship with coal? Poland's love affair with coal goes way back. For … Continue reading Looking at Poland’s energy transition →

As pollution from coal continues to warm the climate and kill tens of thousands of Americans per year, delaying the inevitable comes at a heavy cost for us all

The Trump administration wants the US to embrace coal again. You see other countries – some in Europe – quite positive about coal. Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Rice University explains in an article on The Conversation website that coal simply is not competitive when the true costs are factored in. Do … Continue reading As pollution from coal continues to warm the climate and kill tens of thousands of Americans per year, delaying the inevitable comes at a heavy cost for us all →

Fears that new mining operations in the north east of South Africa could threaten communities, tourism and the environment

Plans to resume coal mining operations at a Unesco World Heritage Site in South Africa area raising many issues about sustainability. Llewellyn Leonard, Professor Environmental Science at the University of South Africa discusses many of the issues in an article on The Conversation website. Why there’s resistance to coal mining at a world heritage … Continue reading Fears that new mining operations in the north east of South Africa could threaten communities, tourism and the environment →