Across northern South America, the promise of agrofuels has been heralded as a key contribution to national energy transitions. Governments in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have promoted biodiesel and ethanol production as steps toward decarbonization and energy independence. Yet a closer look reveals a troubling paradox: crops like oil palm and sugarcane, intended to fuel a “green” transition, have instead displaced food production and intensified social inequality. Different reports show that vast tracts of fertile land, once used for local food, are now dominated by monocultures for export and biofuel processing. Marco Pernavarre reports. Read More
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Fossil gas is locking Mexico and Central America into US energy dependence
In recent years, natural gas, often rebranded as fossil gas, has gained prominence in Mexico and Central America as a supposed ‘transition fuel’. This narrative suggests that natural gas can serve as a temporary replacement for more polluting fossil fuels such as coal and oil, facilitating a gradual shift toward renewable energy. Yet this framing is increasingly challenged by environmental organisations and affected communities, who argue that the expansion of gas infrastructure establishes a new geopolitical and environmental dependency, particularly on the United States of America. As the US becomes the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), its influence over regional energy systems deepens, reshaping both national strategies and regional vulnerabilities. Marco Pernavarre reports. Read More
Hungary’s Paks II nuclear power plant project – Can it be completed, and at what cost?
More than a decade after its launch, the Paks II investment is still in an early, uncertain stage, despite the fact that construction has formally begun. The project was initiated as a political decision in 2014, with questionable economic justification. Compared to the original deadlines, the investment has now accumulated an approximately 10-year delay. The 2026 “first concrete” milestone represents more of a formal change in status than real progress. Costs have increased significantly, and the total investment cost remains unknown. Perger András reports.
Can Santa Marta’s fossil fuel phaseout momentum survive the road to COP31?
After COP28 finally acknowledged the need to transition away from fossil fuels, Santa Marta tried to turn that promise into something more concrete. Journalist Seden Anlar explores whether its phaseout momentum can survive the road to COP31 and the forums where fossil-fuelled power still shapes the rules.
Can Europe electrify its way out of fossil dependence?
With another hot summer approaching, the EU is facing a new test of its energy transition: whether renewable electricity can translate into lower fossil fuel use, affordable heating and cooling, and homes that remain liveable in a warming climate. As Brussels prepares its Electrification Action Plan, journalist Seden Anlar explores how far electrification can go on its own.
Why Britain is saying no to hydrogen boilers
Hydrogen was the future once. But while the UK was quick off the mark in investigating the potential of H2 for heating homes, much of the original plans have been abandoned in favour of solar, wind and electrification, writes Ros Taylor.
Hungary’s green reset: what to expect from the post-Orbán era
The election victory of Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party raises hopes for a long-delayed energy transition in Hungary. However, the road ahead is complex – shaped by Russian oil, gas and nuclear dependency, frozen EU funds, and a new government that is pragmatic rather than progressive. Péter Vigh reports.
The billion-dollar boondoggle: how Vogtle became the US’s monument to nuclear folly
In the quiet scrubland of Waynesboro, Georgia, two enormous concrete domes rise from the landscape. Vogtle Units 3 and 4, the first new nuclear reactors built in the US in more than 30 years, were once touted as the rebirth of US American nuclear ambition. Instead, they have become a monument to mismanagement and cost overruns – conclusive evidence that nuclear power is a nonstarter. Paul Hockenos reports.
A global race without a future: critical mineral extraction in South America
In the global race toward decarbonization, South America stands as both a beacon of potential and a cautionary tale. Brazil, Argentina and Chile, three nations often heralded as leaders in renewable energy, are now confronting a paradox: can an energy transition built on extractivism truly be sustainable? As the demand for “green” minerals such as lithium intensifies, the region’s ecosystems and communities are paying an increasingly visible price. While the global powers demand minerals, the South is barely able to support its most vulnerable populations. Are we witnessing a genuine transformation, or merely a rebranding of old extractive models under a greener illusion? Marco Pérez-Navarrete reports.
China, the world’s checkered trailblazer in climate protection
For decades, the United States and Europe cast themselves as leaders of the global energy transition. Instead, China has seized that role through massive industrial policy and relentless investment in clean technology. The world’s largest emitter is now also the driving force behind the expansion of renewable energy. This shift is changing the economics – and the politics – of climate action.