East European EU states are mounting a behind-the-scenes revolt against the Paris Agreement, blocking key measures needed to deliver the pledge that they signed up to 18 months ago. Poland and the Czech Republic led the charge, Arthur Nelsen of Climate Home explains.
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Top global banks still failing badly on climate change
The results are in, courtesy of the Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card, on how the world’s biggest private banks are tooling up (or not) to tackle climate change. While there are clear signs of improvement in many of the banks’ policy coverage, most notably on coal, overall the picture remains bleak and highly concerning. Yann Louvel and Greig Aitken dig into the numbers.
Mayor debuts green transport plan as London faces air pollution warning
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has announced an ambitious new goal of a zero-emissions transport network by 2050. And not a moment too soon – London has been facing emergency air quality alerts and high pollution this past month. James Murray investigates.
Electricity customers pay for groups that lobby against clean energy, report says
Successful oversight of trade group membership dues has faded away in many states across the United States, a new report says. Mark Hand of Think Progress explains how American utilities use their customers’ money to fight renewables, and subside fracking and nuclear.
Germany ‘massively weakened’ draft G20 climate plan to appease Trump
Germany’s G20 presidency dramatically weakened a climate action plan, gutting it of ambitious language and defining gas, and potentially even some coal power, as “clean technologies”, in an attempt to appeal to US president Donald Trump. Arthur Nelsen of Climate Home Europe takes a look.
Low-Carbon Community Microgrid for Blue Lake Rancheria Native American Tribe
One of the main goals of energy transition is energy democracy and social justice: communities should be able to make and consume their own energy. Today, Andrew Burger of Microgrid Media describes the Blue Lake Ranchiera’s movement towards energy independence.
What people don’t understand about electric cars
German parliamentary elections are coming up this fall, and the German Green Party has adopted a plan for 100% electric vehicles by 2030 for new car sales. But one leader of the party remains skeptical. His criticism showed that we have to get our heads around how fundamentally different electric cars will be. Craig Morris looks at the debate.
New proposals would kill solar and wind in the European Union
In mid-May, European grid regulators spoke out against priority grid dispatch for renewables. If the European Commission adopts their suggestions into law, it will be hard to add more wind or solar capacity. Craig Morris explains what this means for Europe.
“Still in”? American climate policy after Paris
The US government may want to leave the Paris agreement, but an overwhelming number of Americans are continuing to push for state and local action on climate policy. As Trump aims to revitalize the domestic coal industry, it’s crucial to stay focused on what’s possible for renewables and energy efficiency. Silvia Weko takes a look at the US climate resistance.
See you in court: how the South African public sued the nuclear sector and won
When conventional forms of activism don’t reach the ears of a democratically elected government, the courts can provide a platform to hold the state accountable. A High Court ruling against the South African government’s efforts to buy in nuclear power is a case in point, writes Leonie Joubert.