In-depth Q&A: The UK Becomes First Major Economy to Set Net-Zero Climate Goal
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
The UK is to raise its ambition on climate change by setting a legally binding target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to “net-zero” by 2050, prime minister Theresa May has announced today.
How Far would Germany’s 2038 Coal Phaseout Breach Paris Climate Goals?
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
The recommendation by Germany’s coal commission that the country end its use of the fossil fuel in power stations by 2038 could breach a Paris Agreement-compatible pathway by more than a billion tonnes of CO2, Carbon Brief analysis shows.
Global Coal Use May have Peaked in 2014, Says Latest IEA World Energy Outlook
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
The world may never again use as much coal as during a peak in 2014, according to the latest World Energy Outlook from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
In-Depth: BP’s Global Data for 2017 Shows Record Highs for Coal and Renewables
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
Carbon Brief runs through the 2018 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, which, for the first time, covers all sources of electricity and the key materials needed for electric vehicles.
Global Solar Capacity Grew Faster than Fossil Fuels in 2017, Says Report
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
For the first time in 2017, global solar capacity grew faster than all fossil fuels combined, including coal, oil and gas-fired power stations. That’s one finding of the latest annual report on global trends in renewable energy finance, from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).
The EU Got less Electricity from Coal than Renewables in 2017
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
For the first time, the European Union generated more electricity from wind, solar and biomass than from coal in 2017, according to new analysis from two thinktanks.
Low-Carbon Sources Generated more UK Electricity than Fossil Fuels in 2017
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
For the first time in 2017, more than half of the electricity generated in the UK came from low-carbon sources, Carbon Brief analysis shows. The milestone means that, between them, nuclear and renewables generated more electricity in 2017 than all fossil fuels combined.
Renewables will Give more People Access to Electricity than Coal, says IEA
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
Today’s new IEA report shows that coal’s role in expanding electricity access is set to decline dramatically. Renewables, both on and off the grid, will provide most new connections, as the population without access falls by another third to 700 million. If the world hopes to meet its goal of universal electricity access by 2030, then the IEA report suggests it is solar – not coal – that will bridge the gap.