Stories from around the world that show the progress that is being made in concrete actions to address the climate crisis.
Solar set to attract more capital than oil production for the first time ever in 2023May 28, 2023 - The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that over $1.7 trillion will be invested in clean-energy technologies, surpassing fossil fuel investments by around $1 trillion. Clean energy spending is set to grow by 24%—faster than fossil fuels at 15%. This surge is driven by solar panels and electric vehicles, leading the charge against climate change.
95% LOWER EMISSIONS: Sweden’s Shift to Heat Pumps Holds Lessons for CanadaMay 10, 2023 - Sweden’s early shift from fossil-fueled heating to electric heat pumps suggests a carrot-and-stick approach of incentives and regulation could help Canadians achieve the lowered costs and 95% drop in building heating emissions that Swedes have enjoyed since the 1990s.
“I don’t think it’s a question of ‘if,’ it’s just a question of when,” Forsén told his audience at the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) heat pump symposium.
The renewables revolution is exponential, not linear.May 8, 2023 - When it comes to the renewables revolution, linear is the default perception, but exponential is the default reality. The growth of the key new energy technologies is exponential. It has been in the past, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Companies and countries need to be quick to act, for it is hard to catch an exponential curve from behind.
Wind and solar reached a record 12% of global electricity in 2022May 8, 2023 - The decarbonisation of the power sector is underway, as record growth in wind and solar drove the emissions intensity of the world’s electricity to its lowest ever level in 2022. It will be an impressive moment when power sector emissions begin to fall year-on-year, but the world is not there yet, and emissions need to be falling fast.
2,000 New EV Charging StationsMay 3, 2023 - The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Quebec-based charging network operator FLO have announced a plan to install over 2,000 public DC fast charger ports across the country by 2027 — an amount roughly equal to the total number of fast-charging ports currently installed in Canada.
New York State bans gas stoves, furnaces in many new buildingsMay 3, 2023 - New York has become the first U.S. state to pass legislation banning the use of natural gas for heating and cooking in some new buildings, a plan designed to reduce carbon emissions but opposed by industry groups as excessive and costly."Changing the ways we make and use energy to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels will help ensure a healthier environment for us and our children," New York Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement.
US Supreme Court denies appeal from Big OilApr 24, 2023 - The United States Supreme Court delivered a critical victory to those suffering the harms of the climate crisis. The Court rejected ExxonMobil and Suncor’s petition seeking to force communities who sued the companies for their role in the climate crisis and the local impacts their communities suffer into federal court. As a result cases brought by Boulder County, San Miguel County, and the City of Boulder will proceed in state court.
Great Lakes wind power: Now is the time!Apr 20, 2023 - There is enough energy blowing across the Great Lakes to supply all of Ontario’s electricity needs. It is time to lift the outdated moratorium on offshore wind power and tap into this renewable resource. Offshore wind can be developed in an environmentally responsible manner and can supply power at almost half the cost of new nuclear reactors – and will take a fraction of the time to build.
Offshore wind development is starting on the American side of the lakes. There is no reason for Ontario to continue delaying offshore wind development in the four Great Lakes it borders.
World ‘population bomb’ may never go off as fearedApr 15, 2023 - The long-feared “population bomb” may not go off, according to the authors of a new report that estimates that human numbers will peak lower and sooner than previously forecast. Once the demographic bulge is overcome, pressure on nature and the climate should start to ease, along with associated social and political tensions.
United Nations adopts landmark resolution on climate justiceApr 1, 2023 - The UN adopted a resolution on Wednesday that should make it easier to hold polluting countries legally accountable for failing to tackle the climate emergency. The resolution was hailed as ‘win for climate justice of epic proportions’. The resolution will help establish a legal litmus test for the global climate justice movement seeking to hold countries to account for climate failures in the courts.
Reframe the Climate Narrative around Abundance, Not AusterityMar 31, 2023 - In an opinion piece in the Washington Post, Rebecca Solnit says that embracing a “narrative of abundance” and rejecting the deception of “austerity” that fossil fuels impose upon us will be key to spurring climate action. “What if austerity is how we live now—and the abundance could be what is to come?”
Shift from Fossils to Renewables is Quickest, Cheapest Path to Cut Emissions, IPCC Report ShowsMar 26, 2023 - Believe it or not, last week’s report from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes with hopeful news once you read past the frightening headlines. It states that drastically reducing fossil fuel consumption while scaling up renewable energy and energy efficiency is the quickest but also the most affordable path to the rapid, deep emission reductions needed to maintain a liveable world for our grandchildren and the generations to follow.
Devastating Impacts, Affordable Climate Solutions Drive IPCC’s Urgent Call for ActionMar 20, 2023 - This morning’s IPCC report shows how to prevent irreversible harm by scaling up proven climate solutions that are available now, beginning with replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, boosting energy efficiency, and reducing energy and resource use. “Building our mitigation strategies on models that instead lock in inequitable growth and conveniently assume away the risks of techno-fixes like carbon capture and storage and carbon dioxide removal ignores that clarion message and increases the likelihood of overshoot.”
It's Not Too Late - Feedbacks and Tipping PointsMar 19, 2023 - Dr. Heather Short, explains why the alarming news about feedback loops and tipping points that is misleading us to fear that it's too late to act is not accurate. In fact, she says, once we stop emitting greenhouse gases and destroying ecosystems, the climate will stabilize within 3-5 years.
Green Power is now the Best Game for our Global VillageMar 14, 2023 - On the metrics of cost, proven performance, reliability, public safety, meteoric scale increases, competitive ingenuity, supplier diversity, world security, cross-sector carbon reductions, and more equitable global wealth distribution, green power is now the best survivor game for our global village. Hope beckons, because finally this green ascent has a global mass and velocity that is unstoppable.
Green energy technology is the new energy systemFeb 28, 2023 - Twenty years after the emergence of major green energy technologies – wind, solar, electric vehicles, batteries and ancillary technologies — they have become the new energy system. Green has far less to do with it – they are just better. Perhaps it's time to retire the colourful adjectives: green energy is energy.
Wind and Solar Cheaper than Gas Plants in Ontario and AlbertaFeb 22, 2023 - Wind and solar farms with battery backup are both cheaper to build than natural gas power plants in Ontario and Alberta, and the price of the renewable options is expected to fall another 40% by 2035, concludes a report released last week by Clean Energy Canada.
Heat Pumps Sell Like Hotcakes in AlaskaFeb. 22, 2023 - In Alaska, people are flocking to buy Air Source Heat Pumps instead of fuel-guzzling furnaces, as oil prices soar and temperatures plummet. Some Alaskans are pushing their heat pumps to their limits, running them even when outdoor temperatures plummet to nearly –30 degrees Fahrenheit (–34.4 Celsius).
Ottawa unveils Interim Sustainable Jobs PlanFeb 21, 2023 - The federal government unveiled a 10-step plan to transition Canada’s labour force that the Liberals say will help fulfil the party’s promise to leave no Canadian behind as the country — and the world — moves to a net-zero economy.
Saskatchewan company greenlights Canada's first large-scale geothermal power plantFeb 21, 2023 - Saskatchewan’s Deep Earth Energy Production Corp. said it will begin construction this year on Canada’s first commercial-scale facility for producing electricity from geothermal heat, highlighting how Canada’s expertise in oil and gas can be adapted to produce greener energy.
How old electric car batteries could power the futureFeb 21, 2023 - Electric car batteries are too big, too toxic, and too valuable to simply throw away. The global EV revolution has given rise to a new recycling industry that hopes to capitalize on this future waste problem and help solve a looming minerals shortage. At Li-Cycle, a Kingston, Ont. facility, old or defective electric vehicle battery modules are shredded and recycled back into their constituent materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite.
Thousands of PEI residents now have heat pumpsFeb 19, 2023 - 3,000 free heat pumps have been installed since 2021, with 3500 more homes in the queue. Estimated annual energy saving for each homeowner is $768.
Quebec’s Lion ElectricFeb 17 - 2023 - In St. Jerome, Quebec, Lion Electric is cranking out electric school buses for the Canadian and U.S. markets.
Europe races to build green steel plantsFeb 17, 2023 - In Boden, Sweden, a new steel plant is under construction that will reduce GHG emissions by 95%.
Barclay's bank dumps oil sands financing in CanadaFeb 17, 2023 - Shareholder activists concerned about the climate notched a win Wednesday when London-headquartered bank Barclays announced it will stop financing oil sands projects this year.
Electric Vehicle Use reduces local air pollutionFeb 11, 2023 - A study in California has found that areas with more Electric Vehicles have measurably improved air quality and reduced rates of respiratory problems.
We don’t need ‘miracle’ technologies to fix the climate. We have the tools nowFeb 10, 2023 - Wind, water and solar energy is cheap, effective and green. We don’t need experimental or risky energy sources to save our planet.
Weighing the harm of gasoline against lithiumThis article compares the environmental damage caused by mining lithium with the damage done by mining and burning fossil fuels to drive our cars. Lithium is not perfect, but it's so much better it's not even close.
Zero-emission vehicle sales hits record 8.7%Jan 26, 2023 - Market share for zero-emission vehicle registrations hit an all-time high of 8.7% in the third quarter of 2022, according to newly released vehicle registration data from Statistics Canada.
Iron Oxide Batteries Bring Effective Storage to GridsJan 24, 2023 - Long-duration iron-oxide batteries are emerging as a cost effective alternative for grid storage, needed when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow.
Canadians think clean energy is more affordable and secure than fossil fuelsJan 11, 2023 - A majority of Canadians believe an energy system based on renewable sources is more affordable and reliable than one based on fossil fuels, according to a recent poll commissioned by Clean Energy Canada.
This is the Year that Climate Action Turns the CornerJan 8, 2023 - Many of the leading voices in the climate community are marking the new year with an unaccustomed tone in their online commentaries: Hope.
'Just transition' bill coming in 2023, natural resources minister saysJan 3, 2023 - Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is moving ahead with two major mandate items in 2023 — introducing "just transition" legislation intended to help workers in the oil and gas sector move into green energy jobs.
Amidst the climate crisis, the case for hope is getting strongerJan 2, 2023 - It’s hard not to lose hope when money, political power, and greed have us in a stranglehold. But perhaps the first light of dawn is finally signalling the end of this ugly war.
Ottawa unveils national mandate to enforce ZEV sales targetsDec 21, 2022 - The federal government sets mandatory zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales quotas for light-duty vehicles for auto makers and importers - 20% in 2026, 60% in 2030, and 100% in 2035.
EU Boosts Industrial Emissions Target from 43 to 62% by 2030Dec 19, 2022 - The EU agreed to implement policies to speed up the phaseout of free pollution vouchers. Doing so makes each tonne of carbon dioxide that’s released into the atmosphere more expensive for polluters.
Oil Set to Become as Obsolete as LandlinesDec 19, 2022 - With all signs pointing to a clean energy “juggernaut” that will leave slow adopters in the dust, Canada's oil patch needs to plan for a drastic drop in oil demand.
Canada signs onto global forest restoration challenge at COP15Dec 15, 2022 - Canada promises to restore 19 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030.
Canada to end international fossil fuel financingDec 9, 2022 - Canada’s long-awaited plan to end public financing for international fossil fuel projects is here at last and, despite some loopholes, represents a major milestone, environmental groups say.
Ontario Could Cut Emissions 85%, Save $9.5B by Replacing Gas Plants with EfficiencyDec 8, 2022 - Ontario could cut emissions and reduce its use of gas-fired power plants with energy efficiency, solar, wind, and energy storage.
Heat Pumps Primed for Take-OffDec 5, 2022 - All the pieces are in place for the heat pump market to take off, reminiscent of the trajectory we have seen in other key climate technologies like solar PV and electric vehicles.
Federal grant program to offset costs of switching to heat pumpsNov 22, 2022 - $5000 will soon be available for low- and middle-income homeowners to install a heat pump to replace oil for home heating.
Heat pumps now required for new homes in Washington stateNov 10, 2022 - New-build residences will have to install energy-efficient heat pumps starting in July as part of Washington’s ambitious efforts to curb carbon emissions.
UN Report Cracks Down on GreenwashingNov 10, 2022 - The report says that organizations claiming net zero goals must set short-term targets to lower emissions and they can’t also be supporting the expansion of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
Canada’s ZEV registrations hit 9.4%Nov 7, 2022 - The market share of zero-emission light-duty vehicle (ZEV) registrations in Canada — combining battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) — is pushing towards the 10% threshold, hitting 9.4% in Q3.
Ottawa willing to hold banks accountable for climate pledgesNov 3, 2022 - High-ranking Liberals responsible for the government's climate file say financial institutions will be held to their net-zero commitments — with regulations, if necessary.
Global Emissions Rise More Slowly in 2022Oct 28, 2022 - Global carbon dioxide emissions are set to rise by just under 1% this year, far less than analysts predicted, due to record deployment of renewable energy and electric vehicles, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports. Read More ...
87 Countries Have Reached Clean Energy Tipping PointOct 24, 2022 - A 5% threshold for renewable energy on the power grid might not sound like much, but it’s the milestone that could tip electricity systems in 87 countries into a rapid shift off carbon, a Bloomberg news analyst says. “With all good technologies, there comes a time when buying the old tech no longer makes sense”. Read More ...
Renewable Electricity May Soon Cost U.S. Buyers Next to NothingOct 24, 2022 - Solar and wind power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the United States could be signed for less than one cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) thanks to Inflation Reduction Act funding. There may be solar power projects whose levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) drops below a penny per kilowatt hour. Read More ...
The Climate Economy Is About to ExplodeOct 5, 2022 - The fight against climate change is going to change more in the next four years than it has in the past 40. The great story of our lives is just beginning. Welcome aboard.
Air Canada buys hybrid-electric passenger airplanesSep 26, 2022 - Flying emission-free in Canada may be a reality closer than previously thought. Air Canada has placed a purchase order for 30 hybrid-electric aircrafts.
New loan program could help Peterborough homeownersSep 18, 2022 - Peterborough may have a new municipal program by next year to lend money to homeowners to renovate their houses for better energy efficiency. The program would allow homeowners to access loans between $15,000 and $125,000 to be repaid through their property tax bills.
Canada has what it takes to build an electric vehicle industry worth $48B a yearSep 18, 2022 - Canada has the resources to benefit from the growing EV industry and needs a strategy quickly in order to capitalize on payoffs in jobs and economic growth.
Heating Costs lower than gas with Air Source Heat PumpAug 25, 2022 - What if you could save up to $1,000 per year or more on the cost of heating and cooling your home while helping the planet? It's true. Ontario Clean Air Alliance shows you how.
How the UK Is Winning the Race against Climate ChangeAug 23, 2022 - While Canada has fumbled every climate promise, the UK has been hitting its emissions targets. What would it take to catch up?
Individual Actions Can Reduce Pollution by Twenty Five PercentAug 18, 2022 - Climate change is a global problem, so many people feel powerless to do anything about it. Read this article to see which individual actions add up to make the biggest difference.
Solar On Track for ‘Staggering’ 30% Growth This YearAug 15, 2022 - New solar installations around the world are set to grow by a “staggering” 30% this year, and the industry can look ahead to double-digit growth each year through 2025.
Electric vehicle registrations in Canada hit a record highJul 29, 2022 - The share of battery-electric vehicles hit 5.8 per cent in Q1 of 2022, while all zero-emission vehicles (battery electrics and plug-in hybrids) made up 7.7 per cent of new registrations, Statistics Canada reports in its latest data release.
'Holy shit': US Senate set to pass Huge climate dealJul 28, 2022 - The US Senate salvaged a deal for a bill that includes the biggest climate spending package in U.S. history, devoting hundreds of billions of dollars to clean energy technologies aimed at slashing carbon emissions 40% by 2030.
Winnipeg to buy 100 electric busesJul 26, 2022 - The City of Winnipeg is moving ahead with plans to purchase electric buses and revamp its transit system. A $509 million grant will go towards a redesign of the entire network with the acquisition of 100 electric buses, 135 diesel buses, charging infrastructure, and a new garage.
No Need for Miracle Technologies to Rapidly Electrify EverythingJul 14, 2022 - Most of the world can switch to renewable energy without destabilizing power grids, at low cost, and relying almost entirely on existing technologies, according to a new Stanford University study.
161-MW Battery Project Planned for Sault Ste. MarieJul 14, 2022 - A plan for a massive battery storage system near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is moving ahead after receiving city council support.
New Contract Adds 10 GW of Renewables to UK GridJul 12, 2022 - The United Kingdom will add 10 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity to its power grid at one-quarter the cost of fossil gas after concluding its biggest-ever auction for new renewable supplies.
How Low Can It Go?Jul 11, 2022 - The cost of renewable energy continues to go down. Suppliers are lining up to provide power from the wind and sun for about one quarter the current price of generating electricity with gas. Read more ...
Canada Post to convert its 14,000 last-mile vehicle fleet to zero-emission.Jun 16, 2022 - Canada Post is joining the transition to zero-emission vehicles, making a public $1-billion commitment this morning to reduce its environmental footprint, including transforming its 14,000-vehicle combustion fleet to “50 per cent electric fleet by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040.”
Canada Can Hit 100% Zero-Emission Electricity by 2035June 2, 2022 - Read the full report to see how Canada can achieve 100% zero-emission electricity by 2035.
Canadian EV registrations rise in first quarter of 2022May 31, 2022 - 8.3% of new car registration for the first quarter of 2022 were electric vehicles. This shows that uptake in Canada is gathering speed, especially in BC and Quebec where incentives and mandates augment the federal rebate program.
Ottawa Company to Roll Out 3,000 Electric Delivery Vans14 May, 2022 - Ottawa based GoFor Industries says it remains on track to put into service the first electric delivery vans deployed on this continent before the end of June.
Montreal Sets Zero-Emission Target for All New Buildings by 2025May 7, 2022 - Beginning in 2024 in Montreal, construction permits for small buildings (below 2,000 square metres) will only be granted to buildings whose operations will produce no greenhouse gas emissions.
The Renewable-Energy Revolution Will Need Renewable StorageApr 23, 2022 - Storage Technologies beyond chemical batteries: gravity, pressure, and other elemental forces can provide the renewable energy storage we need.
Solutions to the climate crisis will come from the multitudesApr 21, 2022 - If we take away one thing from this week’s climate report, let it be this: The solutions to the climate crisis already exist and are sufficient to bring humanity back into balance with Earth’s living systems.
Montem Resources and Alberta agree to convert coal mine project to a green hydrogen complexApr 20, 2022 - One of the companies that had planned to build an open-pit coal mine in the Rocky Mountains has signed an agreement with an Alberta government agency to work toward converting the project to renewable energy.
Renewables had 80% share of global power capacity expansion in 2021Apr 19, 2022 - Renewable energy continued to expand steadily and well above the long-term trend, with share in total capacity expansion reaching new record of 81% last year.
Quebec Bans Oil and Gas ExplorationApr 18, 2022 - In what campaigners are calling a world first, Quebec’s National Assembly voted to ban new oil and gas exploration and shut down existing drill sites within three years.
IEA Reports large increase in government spending on green energy18 Apr 2022 - IEA Sustainable Recovery Tracker’s latest update shows government spending commitments have jumped to $710 billion – 40% above the levels after the 2008 global financial crisis.
Washington state sets target to end gas car sales by 2030Apr 14, 2022 - Washington is committing to going green as the state passed legislation to only allow the sale of electric cars beginning in 2030.
Electric F150 Pickup Less Expensive than Gas Powered EquivalentApr 13, 2022 - Corporate Knights compares the electric Ford F150 Lightning to the equivalent gas powered model. Total cost of ownership after 10 years and 200,000 km shows that the Lightning will save its owner $12,000.
Canada’s EV fast charger installations up 39 % in 2021Apr 7, 2022 - Electric Autonomy Canada’s annual tally of Canada’s public EV charger installations shows faster growth in 2021, with a 39 per cent increase in DC fast chargers.
The Electrification Revolution Can Start in Smaller CitiesApr 4, 2022 - The Antelope Valley Transit Authority celebrated a milestone last month no other transit agency in the country can claim: the first fleet to be fully electrified, hitting its zero-emission goal a full 18 years earlier than scheduled.
Climate OptimismApr 3, 2022 - The NY Times reports on reasons for hope that the climate crisis can be averted.
Wind and solar hit a record 10% of global electricity generation in 2021Mar 31, 2022 - All forms of clean, non-fossil fuel energy accounted for a total of 38% of the world’s electricity generated in 2021. That share was higher than coal, which generated 36% of the world’s electricity.
Canada’s new building code is paving a way to net-zeroMar 30, 2022 - New building codes from the National Research Council aim to to have all new buildings constructed to net-zero energy ready standards by 2030.
Washington state sets target to end gas car sales by 2030Mar 29, 2022 - Transportation is the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. There is no way to talk about climate change without talking about transportation.
NDP-Liberal deal fuels cautious optimism for climate fileMar 23, 2022 - A new agreement between the NDP and the Liberal government promises political stability until 2025, which will be key for climate action despite its underwhelming commitments, political scientists say.
Record-breaking hydrogen electrolyzer claims 95% efficiencyMar 19, 2022 - A new approach to hydrogen electrolysis is 95% energy efficient compared to 75% or less for existing technologies. This is breakthrough may make non-polluting hydrogen competitive with fossil fuels.
EV Fast Chargers Announced in OntarioMar 19, 2022 - Ontario’s Ivy Charging Network announced that it has opened six fast charger station installations at OnRoute rest stops, part of its plan to install fast chargers at all 23 OnRoute locations along Highways 400 and 401 in the province.
EV Sales Up in CanadaMar 16, 2022 - Data for the final three months of 2021 is not yet available but for the first nine months, EVs represented 5% of new cars registered, up from 3% in both 2020 and 2019.
Solar Emerges as America’s Fastest-Growing Electricity SourceMar 15, 2022 - Renewable energy supplied 21.02% of the United States’ total electrical generation in 2021, coming in 5% ahead of forecasts made by the nation’s energy information agency.
Peterborough Rally for a Just TransitionMar 12, 2022 - About 110 people participated on a cold and blustery winter Saturday to watch a spoof opening of the Peterborough Job Centre of the new federal Ministry of Just Transition. Another 50 similar events were held across Canada.
Feds announce next step as Canadians prepare to rally for a just transitionMar 11, 2022 - Two days before Canadians across the country will come together in a show of widespread support for just transition legislation, the federal government announced a long-awaited next step to ensure “a just transition through the creation of sustainable jobs.”
U.S. Offshore Wind Auction Yields Record BidsMar 10, 2022 - An auction for the right to generate wind power off the coast of New York and New Jersey yielded record-breaking bids. Veteran climate journalist Dan Gearino writes “the total of these winning bids is staggeringly huge.”
Ottawa to require an energy audit before selling a houseFeb 26, 2020 - Ottawa’s next push on “green homes” is to require energy-efficiency ratings for houses going on the market.
Halton Regional Council Votes to Stop Sprawl in Halton!Feb 25, 2022 - Stop Sprawl Halton was elated with the recent vote, when Halton Regional Council passed a motion which resulted in saving 5,200 acres of prime agricultural farmland from being designated for development.
New climate finance fund targets adaptation and vulnerable populations24 Feb, 2022 - A new climate finance initiative marks a departure from Canada’s reliance on large multinational banks to distribute funds and instead puts money directly into the hands of those most affected by climate change.
Ontario steel plant spending $1.75B to eliminate coal from production processFeb 15, 2022 - The project will reduce carbon emissions from the plant — currently one of Ontario's largest greenhouse gas producers — by around three million tonnes per year
Kawartha Land Trust protects two more threatened wetlandsFeb 4, 2022 - Wetlands on Nogies Creek and Balsam Lake are now under the protection of the Kawartha Land Trust, enhancing our resilience to climate change and acting as a carbon sink.
These EVs are cheaper to own than their gas-powered counterpartsFeb 2, 2022 - Ford’s new F-150 Lightning is 17% more affordable to own than the gas-powered version. The same study finds that Volkswagen’s electric ID.4 has a total cost of ownership that’s 15% lower the Honda CRV, one of the most popular SUVs.
Court Revokes Oil and Gas Leases, Citing Climate ChangeJan 29, 2022 - A federal judge ruled that the Interior Department must consider the climate effects of oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico before awarding leases. As Bill McKibben said here, this assessment "will clearly show that drilling for more oil and gas will increase the planet’s temperature. (This is called physics)"
Cooking without gas - Towns eliminating natural gas heatingJan 24, 2022 - Some municipalities are taking natural gas out of buildings in a shift to a greener future. Laura Lynch checks in on Ithaca New York and Halton Hills, Ontario, both leading the way.
Ithaca New York votes to decarbonize its buildings by 2030Jan 24, 2022 - The city of Ithaca, population 32,000, has voted to decarbonize and electrify buildings in the city by the end of the decade part of the plan that will help the city become carbon neutral by 2030. This is a real plan, not just a lofty ambition.
Boston Globe Announces Full Time Climate DeskJan 21, 2022 - In announcing the creation of a climate desk, the Boston Globe says this "The climate crisis is now an emergency. We believe solutions must begin here, in our communities, state, and region."
Experts slam oil giant Exxon Mobil's net-zero 'ambition'Jan 21, 2022 - Exxon Greenwashing debunked. As the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry stem from the consumption of its products, scientists and environmental researchers have slammed the headline-grabbing announcement from the U.S. energy giant.
Chrysler aims to be all electric by 2028Jan 6, 2022 - Chrysler plans go all electric by 2028, the latest automaker to announce a shift away from gasoline-powered engines under rising pressure to act on climate change.
Denmark to make domestic flights fossil fuel free by 2030Jan 3, 2022 - Also, the Swedish government announced plans to introduce increased airport fees for high-polluting planes. Meanwhile France is moving to ban domestic flights where the same journey could be made by train in under two-and-a-half hours.
Quebec bans oil heating in new homes starting Dec. 31Jan 3, 2022 - As of Dec. 31, oil-powered heating is banned in all new construction projects across Quebec, part of the province's push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In two years, Quebec will go a step further by making it illegal to replace existing oil furnaces with any sort of heating system powered by fossil fuels after Dec. 31, 2023.
Encouraging Predictions from Environmental Defense for Climate Action in 2022Dec 28, 2021 - As the urgency to act on climate continues to mount, Canadians will increasingly expect more ambitious climate policy from all levels of government. Read the story for predictions from an Environmental Defence Canada.
Canada Bans Plastic Straws and Bags by end of 2022Dec 22, 2021 - Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault published draft regulations Tuesday outlining how Canada will ban the manufacture, sale and import of plastic cutlery, stir sticks, straws and six-pack rings, by the end of next year.
Toronto Council Approves 2040 net-zero carbon emissions targetDec 16, 2021 - Toronto city council has voted in favour of a strategy to reduce emissions in the city by 45 per cent over the next four years and to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, ten years earlier than the previous plan. Read the article to find out how.
Financial community commits to weaning global economy off fossil fuelsNov 3, 2021 - Hundreds of the world’s biggest banks and pension funds with assets worth $130tn have committed themselves to a key goal in limiting greenhouse gas emissions. More than 450 firms — including Canada's big five chartered banks — have committed to supporting the goals of what's become known as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).
Electric Vehicles Are Having a Banner YearOct 28, 2021 - Electric vehicles sales are now 2.6 percent of all new light duty cars and trucks sold in the US, up from 1.6 percent at this time last year.
European Investment Bank to end all loans to oil and gas firmsOct 28, 2021 - The European Investment Bank (EIB), the lending arm of the EU, has vowed to close a loophole that allows it to lend money to oil and gas firms despite a ban on financing fossil fuel projects. From 2022 onwards, the EIB will stop lending to polluting companies that want to finance low-carbon projects.
U of Toronto to divest its endowment of fossil fuelsOct 28, 2021 - The University of Toronto will immediately begin divesting its $4-billion endowment fund of fossil fuel investments, a big win for climate activists on campus and others who have called for such a move for years.
‘Anti-Alberta’ inquiry points finger at media and environmentalists but finds no wrongdoingOct 25, 2021 - The often-criticized and much-delayed public inquiry into the so-called anti-Alberta energy campaigns has released its final report, finding no evidence that environmentalists targeted by the multimillion dollar investigation did anything wrong.
Keep the oil in the soil! A massive win for climate justiceOct 23, 2021 - California, the world's fifth biggest economy, has sharply restricted oil and gas drilling providing a huge victory in the climate fight, because it will set a large percentage of the state off limits.
CBC commits to more climate change journalismOct 18, 2021 - We will follow the science and share the facts that help to explain the key issues facing Canada and the world, today and into the future. We will attempt to make the overwhelming more manageable and more understandable, and highlight the scientific and social changes that are making a difference.
Poll finds most Canadians want a just transition — and not a dollar more for TMXOct 14, 2021 - The poll shows two-thirds of Canadians want the federal government to take bolder, faster action to respond to climate change, including phasing out taxpayer subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, investing in renewable energy, and introducing the just transition legislation promised years ago.
Cement makers across world pledge large cut in emissionsOct 14, 2021 - Cement makers around the world have pledged to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by up to a quarter this decade and reach net zero by 2050, in a move they said would make a major difference to the prospects for the Cop26 climate summit.
Demand for fossil fuels will peak by 2025 if countries meet their climate pledges.Oct 14, 2021 - The International Energy Agency says a successful transition towards 1.5C would avoid “immense risks” from climate inaction and create a $1.2tn market for clean energy that would rival the current size of the oil industry.
Canada supports global pledge to slash oil and gas methaneOct 14, 2021 - Canada is committing to slash methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 75 per cent as part of a global effort to curb the powerful greenhouse gas. This is crucial for Canada to meet its reduction commitments, because methane is 80 times more powerful than CO2 as a greenhouse gas causing climate change.
Climate is the Winner as German Election Points to Three-Party CoalitionSep 30, 2021 - It may be weeks before Germany knows the precise composition of its next government, but initial analysis Sunday night pointed to a three-party coalition with a strong focus on climate change and climate solutions.
Norway plans to move money to net-zeroSep 30, 2021 - The new Norwegian government announced that the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the largest public stockholder in the world, is committing to make sure that all the companies in its portfolio are targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.
Canada’s second-largest pension fund is pulling out of oil productionSep 30, 2021 - Canada’s second-largest pension fund is vowing to sell all of its investments in oil production by the end of next year, a significant move to pull private support from the sector in the name of action on climate change.
China to exit coal-fired power abroadSep 24, 2021 - Beijing is to end support for overseas coal-fired power projects and plans to up investment in low-carbon energy. It's big news ahead of the November climate summit, but private investors need to follow suit.
We're Finally Catching a Break in the Climate FightSep 20, 2021 - The incredibly rapid fall in the cost of renewables offers hope-but only if movements can push banks and politicians hard enough.
Ontario teachers' pension plan to cut carbon investmentsSep 20, 2021 - Bowing to pressure from its members, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan announced its commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The climate cafes popping up around the worldSep 09, 2021 - Organisers say that showing people they are not alone in their fears is key to instigating climate action. Let's try it here in Peterborough.
Mineral constraints for transition overstated by IEASep 09, 2021 - The fossil system requires over 300 times more material than the renewable system. The disparity is enormous, and no amount of fancy footwork by apologists of the fossil fuel system should deflect us from the central point that we have the resources to make the energy transition a reality and to usher in a new age of growth and prosperity.
Renewables became the second-most prevalent U.S. electricity source in 2020Aug 30, 2021 - In 2020, renewable energy sources surpassed both nuclear (790 billion kWh) and coal (774 billion kWh) for the first time on record. This outcome in 2020 was due mostly to significantly less coal use in U.S. electricity generation and steadily increased use of wind and solar.
Newfoundland completes EV Fast Charging NetworkAug 30, 2021 - The first electric vehicle fast-charging network is now up and running across Newfoundland. Drivers now have a place to charge up about every 70 kilometres along the Trans-Canada Highway from Port aux Basques to St. John's, along with one in Gros Morne National Park.
Sweden's HYBRIT delivers world's first fossil-free steelAug 24, 2021 - Swedish green steel venture HYBRIT said on Wednesday that it had made the world's first customer delivery of steel produced without using coal as it looks to revolutionize an industry that accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
UK Government announces plans for a world-leading hydrogen economyAug 24, 2021 - The UK’s first-ever Hydrogen Strategy will unlock over £4 billion in investment and create thousands of jobs in the move to establish a thriving low carbon hydrogen sector in the UK by 2030.
Solar Could Top 40% of U.S. Power Supply by 2035Aug 20, 2021 - The right federal policies could boost the share of solar in the United States electricity mix from 3% today to more than 40% in 2035, according to a memo published Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Energy.
US judge throws out Trump-era approval for giant Alaska oil projectAug 20, 2021 - A federal judge on Wednesday threw out Trump administration approvals for a large planned oil project on Alaska’s North Slope, saying the federal review was flawed.
Humans ‘pushing Earth close to tipping point’, say most in G20Aug 18, 2021 - Three-quarters of people in the world’s wealthiest nations believe humanity is pushing the planet towards a dangerous tipping point and support a shift of priorities away from economic profit, according to a global survey.
49% Want Urgent Climate Action as Canadian Wildfire Impacts MountAug 9, 2021 - Half of Canadians say the recent wave of heat, drought, and wildfires sweeping the country has given them a heightened sense of urgency about the climate crisis, according to an Ipsos poll released Wednesday by Global News.
IEA head says no new fossil-fuel exploration should be carried outAug 2, 2021 - Dr Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, hopes the UK will be an “inspiration for the rest of the world” as the government considers proposals for oil and gas drilling off the coast of Shetland.
Ford government launches youth environment councilJuly 22, 2021 - Ontario’s Ford government, which dismantled existing provincial climate change policy upon assuming office and unsuccessfully fought federal efforts in court, wants motivated high school students to share their insights and ideas on the environment via a new council.
UK government publishes first ever Transport Decarbonisation PlanJuly 21, 2021 - The UK government has provided its most comprehensive plan yet for fully decarbonising transport by 2050 and plans to end sale of all combustion vehicles as part of drive to cut net CO2 emissions to zero.
How Douro Dummer is taking climate actionJul 21, 2021 - In Douro Dummer, right here in Peterborough County, builders can get a spectrum of rebates from the township by using low-carbon construction materials, depending on the evaluated level of emissions from the final build. If a building achieves net-zero emissions, 80 per cent of the building permit fee will be returned.
Greenland suspends oil exploration because of climate changeJul 18, 2021 - The left-leaning government of Greenland has decided to suspend all oil exploration off the world’s largest island, calling it is “a natural step” because the Arctic government “takes the climate crisis seriously.”
Activism Can Make a DifferenceJul 17, 2021 - RBC might have been caught off guard by the sudden onslaught of pressure from customers across the country this year, demanding it deliver on its commitments to climate action and social justice.
Democrats Intend to Include Border Carbon Tax in Budget PlanJul 16, 2021 - The recent $3.5 trillion budget proposal in the US includes a carbon border tax. This measure, announced on the same day as the EU's similar announcement, removes one of the biggest obstacles preventing Canada from taking a similar measure.
Two-Thirds of Canadian Oil and Gas Workers Want Net-Zero JobsJul 15, 2021 - Fossil fuel industry workers are ready to make the jump to a net-zero economy. They've powered Canada, now it's time to let them empower their future.
E.U. Set to Unveil First-Ever Carbon Border TaxJul 14, 2021 - The European Union is scheduled this week to release its plan for a carbon border adjustment—basically a fee on planet-warming carbon embedded in goods produced outside the 27-member bloc.
BlackRock raises $250m for climate projects in developing countriesJul 13, 2021 - The world's largest investor, BlackRock, has secured more than $250m from global investors and governments to support clean energy uptake and climate infrastructure across countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Goldboro LNG Misses June 30 Investment DeadlineJul 13, 2021 - After failing to attract a single major investor for its proposed Goldboro Liquefied Natural Gas project on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia (Mi’kma’ki), Pieridae Energy has quietly missed its June 30th deadline for a Final Investment Decision. Opponents of the fossil fuel infrastructure project are celebrating the lack of investment, particularly the company’s failure to receive the nearly $1 billion in public funds that it had requested from the federal government.
European Central Bank to flex its financial muscle in climate change fightJul 12, 2021 - The European Central Bank will take greater account of climate change in its core policy decisions, in the latest move by one of the world's biggest central banks to curb carbon emissions. Europe's most powerful financial authority made its announcement before the launch next week of a package of measures by the European Union, which is striving to lead the world in greening the economy.
UN sets out Paris-style plan to cut extinction rate by factor of 10Jul 12, 2021 - The goals set out by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)to help halt and reverse the ecological destruction of Earth by the end of the decade include protecting at least 30% of the world’s oceans and land and providing a third of climate crisis mitigation through nature by 2030.
Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie to transition to cleaner technologyJul 12, 2021 - Algoma Steel Inc., in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is getting up to $420 million in federal funding to help it phase out coal-fired steel-making processes. This will allow them to purchase equipment to support the transition to electric-arc furnace and cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than three million metric tonnes a year by 2030.
Major Public Support for Energy TransitionJul 3, 2021 - More than 4 out of 5 people in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador want to see a transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency, which would include training and income support for affected workers.
Deep Retrofit Program Could Fix Every Canadian Building by 2035Jul 2, 2021 - Taking on an audacious “national retrofit mission” would enable Canada to upgrade every building in the country by 2035, eliminate their fossil fuel consumption by 2050, and free up 50 terawatt-hours of electricity for other uses.
Canada to ban new gas-powered car sales by 2035Jul 1, 2021 - Canada has moved forward their ban on new gas-powered car sales to 2035 from 2040. Good, but Norway's target is 2025.
Canadian Senate passes Bill C-12Today, the Senate passed the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (Bill C-12), confirming the first-ever climate accountability legislation in Canada. Bill C-12 enshrines Canada’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 in law, and establishes the country’s first comprehensive climate governance system.
City of Brampton orders Ontario's first electric fire truckThe City of Brampton announced on Wednesday that it will become the first municipality in Ontario to deploy an electric fire truck. In a unanimous decision, city council approved the decision to purchase a Rosenbauer RT to replace a front-line pumper.
Investment in British Columbia supports purchase of 280 EV school busesThe Canada Infrastructure Bank and Association of School Transportation Services of British Columbia have finalized an agreement for the CIB to provide up to $30 million towards the purchase of up to 280 zero-emission school buses.
Southern Alberta firm signs massive solar power deal with AmazonAmazon will purchase power from a massive new solar farm in Alberta, marking the e-commerce giant’s second renewable energy investment in Canada.
Potential Breakthrough for Clean SteelA Swedish partnership is cheering a milestone in its quest to make steel in a way that sharply reduces emissions.
EVs Cost 40 Percent Less to MaintainMaintenance costs for a light-duty, battery-powered car are around 40 percent less per mile than for a gas-powered car.
Most new wind and solar projects will be cheaper than coalAlmost two-thirds of wind and solar projects built globally last year will be able to generate cheaper electricity than even the world’s cheapest new coal plants.
How the U.S. Made Progress on Climate Change Without Ever Passing a BillEconomic feedback loops, accelerated by government policy, result in emissions reductions progress.
Richest nations agree to end support for coal production overseasThe world’s richest nations have agreed to end their financial support for coal development overseas, in a major step towards phasing out the dirtiest fossil fuel.
‘Black Wednesday’ for big oil as courtrooms and boardrooms turn on industryThe world’s patience with the fossil fuel industry is wearing thin. This was the stark message delivered to major international oil companies this week in an unprecedented day of reckoning for their role in the climate crisis.
BP buys string of US solar farms in clean energy driveBP has bought a pipeline of US solar farms as part of its plan to distance itself from the fossil fuel industry. The oil company has agreed to snap up a string of development projects, totalling 9GW, from the independent US solar developer 7X Energy in a “significant step” towards its goal of securing 20GW by 2025.
Big Oil's Bad, Bad DayCrushing blows to three of the world’s largest oil companies have made it clear that the arguments many have been making for decades have sunk in at the highest levels.
ExxonMobil and Chevron suffer shareholder rebellions over climateUS oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron have suffered shareholder rebellions from climate activists and disgruntled institutional investors over their failure to set a strategy for a low-carbon future.
Federal government will pay up to $5,000 to make your home more energy efficientThe government of Canada is launching a new program today that offers Canadians grants of up to $5,000 to pay for energy-saving home upgrades.
Why Bill Gates and John Kerry are wrong about climate change"Given the current pace of innovation, it’s possible to imagine a future far different from the despair and pessimism of the climate doomists. There’s no reason why we can’t be headed towards what solar energy pioneer Martin Green calls “a future of insanely cheap energy.”
In early hours of Friday, windfarm turbines provided nearly two-thirds of Britain’s electricityA new record was set in the early hours of Friday for the share of wind power in the generation mix, with wind providing nearly two-thirds of Britain’s electricity, according to provisional data from National Grid.
IESO outlines plans to look at a gas plant phase-outOntario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has released its plan for assessing how Ontario can phase-out its gas-fired power plants. It has come up with three scenarios it plans to examine over the next four months:
IEA: Time to stop coal, oil and gas investmentsThe International Energy Agency said in a report released Tuesday that it has determined there is a narrow but viable pathway for building a global energy sector with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Germany maps path to reaching 'net zero' emissions by 2045The German government adopted an ambitious plan Wednesday to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions to `net zero' by 2045, five years earlier and with deeper cuts than previously planned.
Canada officially tosses plastic in the 'toxic' binPlastic is now considered toxic under Canada’s primary environmental law — the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) — the Trudeau government announced Wednesday.
Renewable energy industry grew 45% last yearRenewable energy projects, including windfarms and solar power projects, grew by 45% last year in a step change for the global industry.
CHEX TV starts presenting daily CO2 levelsStarting last night, CHEX TV intends to present daily CO2 levels as part of the weather report. We hope that this will increase awareness in the general public of CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere as the main factor driving the Climate Crisis.
Young people take their countries to court over climate inactionRead about some of the children and young adults around the world who are demanding action from governments on global heating and the ecological crisis.
Dare we hope? Rebecca Solnit's cautious case for climate optimismThe Green New Deal, formerly seen as radical, is now in mainstream debate. And renewable energy becomes more efficient every day
Global electric car sales rise 40% in 2020The sale of electric vehicles increased 41% in 2020 and momentum has continued into this year, with sales in the first quarter of 2021 reaching nearly two and half times their level in the same period a year earlier.
Ottawa will carry out environmental assessment of Highway 413The federal government has designated Highway 413 for a federal environmental assessment which will supersede the Ford government’s evaluation.
How the Global Steel Industry is Cutting out CoalAs Alberta and B.C. mull expanding metallurgical coal mining in the Rockies, some steel manufacturers are pledging to do away with the need for the carbon-heavy material altogether.
Green Economy Peterborough launches on Earth DayOrganizations across Peterborough are recognizing that growth is neither profitable nor sustainable if it fails to include a plan for climate action.
Youth Win Climate Court Case in GermanyGermany’s supreme constitutional court has ruled that the government’s climate protection measures are insufficient to protect future generations. They order the government to strengthen legislation before the end of next year to protect future generations
EU reaches major climate deal ahead of Biden climate summitThe European Union has reached a tentative climate deal to put the 27-nation bloc on a path to being “climate neutral” by 2050, with member states and parliament agreeing on binding targets for carbon emissions on the eve of a virtual summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden.
101 Nobel laureates call for global fossil fuel non-proliferation treatyA hundred and one Nobel laureates, including the Dalai Lama, are calling for governments around the world to sign up to a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty to help tackle the climate crisis.
Leading finance firms sign up to Mark Carney forum on low-carbon investmentBanks and financial institutions with more than $70tn assets have pledged to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and ensure their investment portfolios align with the science on the climate.
UK announces new ambitious climate change targetThe UK government will set the world’s most ambitious climate change target into law to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
Washington State plans to phase out new gas cars by 2030The state of Washington will become the first in the U.S. to move as quickly to phase out polluting cars. In nine years, if you want to buy a new car or light truck in Washington, it will have to be electric.
US and China commit to cooperating on climate crisisThe US and China have “committed to cooperating” on the pressing issue of climate change, the two sides said in a joint statement following a visit to Shanghai by US climate envoy John Kerry.
Ad Agencies Begin Pulling away from Fossil Fuel ClientsSome ad agencies have decided to cut their ties with the fossil-fuel industry. Last month, Forsman and Bodenfors, a major firm with offices in Sweden and New York, said that it was done working for oil and gas.
Executives ask Biden to cut CO2 emissions 50% by 2030More than 300 businesses have called on President Joe Biden to nearly double U.S. targets to reduce planet-warming emissions below 2005 levels by 2030.
Media Coverage of Climate Crisis IncreasingMarch 2021 saw media coverage of climate change increase 10% globally from the previous month while it nearly doubled from a year ago (up 92%) when world media turned their attention to the emergent COVID-19 virus and pandemic.
Volkswagen ID.4 Catching Up to TeslaAs the new ID.4 goes on sale, an analyst says Volkswagen could overtake Tesla in global sales as soon as next year.
Apple powers ahead in new renewable energy solutionsA new energy storage project highlights Apple’s efforts to become carbon neutral for its supply chain and products by 2030.
Solar Power Gets Much, Much CheaperThe USA Department of Energy is aiming to cut the price of utility-scale solar by more than half by 2030. This will bring it down to 2 cents (US) per kWh, down from 27.7 cents in 2010.
The Powerful New Financial Argument for Fossil-Fuel DivestmentA report by BlackRock, the world’s largest investment house, shows that those who have divested have profited not only morally but also financially.
Supreme Court puts Canada on track for carbon pricingAlthough this decision was specifically about carbon pricing, it signals that the federal government has the authority to enact national climate and clean energy regulations that reduce harmful emissions.
Renewable Stocks Outperform Fossils AgainFinancial results based on average annual rate of returns over a five year period were 18% for renewables and 4.7% for fossil stocks, more than a three-fold difference.
American Petroleum Institute endorses carbon pricingThe oil and gas industry’s largest trade group has endorsed a price on carbon emissions, marking a major shift after it long resisted regulatory action on climate change.
Supreme Court rules Ottawa's carbon tax is constitutionalThe Supreme Court of Canada that the federal government has the power to impose a minimum carbon price across the country in the name of reducing greenhouse gas emissions “as a matter of national concern.”
Global Media Attention on Climate IncreasesAt the global level, 2020 media attention dropped 23% from 2019, but was still up 34% compared to 2018, 41% higher than 2017, 38% higher than 2016. Canadian print media coverage reached all-time highs in 2020.
The holy grail of aviation: net-zero flights ‘on the horizon’, say scientistsUS researchers have developed a technique for turning food waste into jet fuel, bringing the prospect of net-zero flights a step closer.
UK Is Now Halfway Toward Meeting Its Zero-Carbon Goal by 2050Greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom have plunged by 51 percent since 1990 and the country is halfway toward slashing its CO2 emissions to zero by 2050, according to the Web site Carbon Brief.
UN framework integrates natural capital in economic reportingThe United Nations has adopted a new framework that includes the contributions of nature when measuring economic prosperity and human well-being.
More American Communities committed to clean energyMore than a dozen U.S. states, districts, and territories and greater than 200 (U.S.) cities and counties now have committed to or already achieved 100% clean electricity.
Major UK bus company will buy no diesel buses after 2022First Bus, one of the largest bus operators in the UK, has taken delivery of its first fully electric bus. They have previously announced an intention to purchase only zero emission buses after 2022.
Ford says it will phase out gasoline-powered vehicles in EuropeFord Motor announced that by 2026 in Europe, the company will offer only electric and plug-in hybrid models, and by 2030 all passenger cars will run solely on batteries.
GM Super Bowl Ad makes Electric Vehicles "normal"GM has cast its electric vehicles as normal American cars, in a normal Super Bowl ad. Here are seven ways to think about that.
A New Day for the ClimateIt remains to be seen whether Joe Biden’s sweeping climate directives can make a meaningful difference, but a critical threshold has been crossed.
Biden's Landmark Day in the Fight for the ClimateOn Wednesday, in the course of a few hours, the Biden Administration took a series of coördinated actions that, considered together, may well mark the official beginning of the end of the fossil-fuel era.
Almost two-thirds of people believe climate change is a global emergencyNearly two-thirds of respondents believe that climate change is a "global emergency," according to a survey of 1.2 million people in dozens of countries around the globe -- and many want urgent action to tackle the problem.
Ontario Teachers Pension Plan DivestingThe Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board announced its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. See Shift Action's criticism that this is too slow.
Peterborough Reports on Climate Progress and Plans.After declaring a Climate Emergency in 2019, Peterborough has started reporting on its progress and its plans. It's not much but it's a start.
Electric car batteries with five-minute charging times producedBatteries capable of fully charging in five minutes have been produced in a factory for the first time, marking a significant step towards electric cars becoming as fast to charge as filling up petrol or diesel vehicles.
Global sales of electric cars accelerate in 2020Global sales of electric cars accelerated fast in 2020, rising by 43% to more than 3m, despite overall car sales slumping by a fifth during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cities can Reclaim Public Spaces as Gathering PlacesWill the COVID-19 pandemic prompt a shift to healthier cities that focus on wellness rather than functional and economic concerns?
Canada among 50 countries supporting High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and PeopleCanada is one of a coalition of more than 50 countries committed to protect almost a third of the planet by 2030 to halt the destruction of the natural world and slow extinctions of wildlife.
Covid-19 Took a Bite From U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2020America’s greenhouse gas emissions from energy and industry plummeted more than 10 percent in 2020.
Electric cars hit record 50% sales in northernmost Norway"We are well on our way to the goal that electric cars should be the natural choice for everyone, due to new models to choose from and charging infrastructure," says Snorre Sletvold with the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association.
Great Britain sets new record for wind power generationMore than half of Great Britain’s daily electricity came from wind turbines for the first time on Boxing Day, as the country headed for its “greenest year on record”.
USA Stimulus deal includes raft of provisions to fight climate changeThe most substantial federal investment in green technology in a decade includes billions for solar, wind, battery storage and carbon capture. Congress also agreed to cut the use of HFCs, chemicals used in refrigeration that are driving global warming.
Canada's Clean Energy Gazelles outperforming fossil fuelsCanada’s performance in six key areas of clean-energy exports is growing three times faster than all other product exports.
Global Cities to meet climate targets from the Paris agreement54 of the world’s leading cities are on track to meet targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris agreement, which is crucial for keeping global heating below 1.5C.
Bank of America will not finance Arctic drillingBank of America has just become the last major US financial institution to declare that they will no longer finance any oil and gas exploration in the Arctic. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Chase, Wells Fargo and Citi Bank all announced official no-Arctic-drilling policies earlier this year.
Denmark to shut down oil productionDenmark, the largest oil producer in the European Union has committed to ending fossil fuel extraction while ensuring continued employment for affected workers.
Federal Vehicles to be 80% electricBy 2030, 80 per cent of all vehicles used by the federal government must be either hybrid or electric.
Electrification of transit will require time to overcome challengesElectric bus infrastructure is expensive, yet cities are still moving ahead. And yet the TTC got approval to buy its first 30 electric buses in November 2017 and plans to have a zero-emissions fleet by 2040.
Delivery by e-bike Saves Money, Time and EmissionsAfter running for a full year in Montreal, a company reports that an e-bike is 30 to 40 per cent more efficient than a truck in terms of deliveries per hour.
Pick up the pace on combating climate changeCanada's top central banker is making a plea for the country to more quickly address the impacts of climate change to avoid any economic ripple effects on households and businesses.
75% believe humans mainly or partly responsibleMore than 75% of respondents polled agreed that humankind is mainly or partly to blame for the climate emergency.
Renewable energy record growth in 2020Global renewable electricity installation will hit a record level in 2020 putting green electricity on track to become the largest power source in 2025, displacing coal.
Additional price for low Emissions Products SmallIn many sectors, decarbonization will only have a small impact on end consumer prices. For example, using 'green' steel would likely add less than $180 to the price of a car.
Tucson puts climate justice at centre of plansIn September, Tucson’s hottest and driest on record, city officials declared a climate emergency, pledging to become a global leader by working “to promote an ecologically, socially and economically regenerative local economy at emergency speed”.
Global Emissions Likely Peaked in 2019, Report FindsGlobal carbon emissions from energy use dropped 8% in 2020 due to coronavirus-related economic shutdowns — a decline equal to two-and-a-half years of energy sector emissions. The drop means that global greenhouse gas emissions likely peaked in 2019, the report found, and will not rise to that level again even as the global economy rebounds from the pandemic. Despite this projected progress, however, the world will still be on track to warm 3.3 °C by 2100, the analysis finds.
Tackling climate change seemed expensive. Then COVID happened.Climate deniers and opponents of aggressive climate action have long argued that governments can’t afford comprehensive measures to confront the climate crisis. But then COVID-19 challenged preconceived notions about the limits of government spending.
If just 12% of currently pledged COVID-19 stimulus funding were spent every year through 2024 on low-carbon energy investments and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, the researchers said, that would be enough to limit global warming to 1.5 °C.
Electrifying Homes And Cars Could Save The Climate -- And $2,500 Per U.S. HouseholdWhat if Americans could drive the same miles and blast the A/C to cool single-family suburban homes all summer long and actually reduce U.S. emissions of climate-changing gases by 40%? Not only is it possible, according to a new study, the average household would save up to $2,500 a year and do it with technology that’s on the market today while creating millions of good-paying jobs.
Japan’s New Leader Sets Ambitious Goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2050Japan will be carbon neutral by 2050, its prime minister said on Monday, making an ambitious pledge to sharply accelerate the country’s global warming targets, even as it plans to build more than a dozen new coal-burning power plants in the coming years.
The prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, laid out the goal during his first major policy speech since taking office in September, when Japan’s longest-serving leader, Shinzo Abe, abruptly resigned. The announcement came just weeks after China, Japan’s regional rival, said it would reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2060.
Biden says he'd transition America away from oil industry to renewable energy 'over time'Vice President Joe Biden stated near the end of the presidential debate on Thursday that he would “transition” America away from dependence on oil, if elected president.
“It has to be replaced by renewable energy over time,” Biden added. “And I’d stop giving to the oil industry—I’d stop giving them federal subsidies. [Trump] won’t give federal subsidies to solar and wind. Why are we giving it to the oil industry?”
Solar is now ‘cheapest electricity in history’, confirms IEAThe world’s best solar power schemes now offer the “cheapest…electricity in history” with the technology cheaper than coal and gas in most major countries.
That is according to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2020. The 464-page outlook, published today by the IEA, also outlines the “extraordinarily turbulent” impact of coronavirus and the “highly uncertain” future of global energy use over the next two decades.
Five Developments To Really Feel Good AboutThis post features a wide-ranging collection of five positive developments—things to feel good about—at a time when our world is undergoing the most tumultuous and unpredictable period in human history. Daily news about climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, social and economic inequality, racism and violence dominate the headlines. And yet, we are often reminded that all is not bleak. These isolated developments offer hope and perhaps promising paths to a better future.
JPMorgan Chase to achieve operational carbon neutrality starting in 2020New York — JPMorgan Chase & Co. said that it is adopting a financing commitment that is aligned to the goals of the Paris Agreement (“Paris”). As part of its strategy, the Firm intends to help clients navigate the challenges and capitalize on the long-term economic and environmental benefits of transitioning to a low-carbon world.
JPMorgan Chase is ranked by S&P Global as the largest bank in the United States and the seventh largest bank in the world by total assets. (Wikipedia)
Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance sets 2025 decarbonisation targetsThirty of the world’s largest investors with $5 trillion assets under management have collectively agreed on concrete portfolio decarbonization targets that follow the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1.5 °C scenario for the next five years.
Investors and graduates flock to UK's burgeoning windfarmsThe Hywind offshore windfarm stands 15 miles off the coast of Peterhead, and firmly on the cusp of Britain’s most dramatic energy revolution since the discovery of North Sea oil. The world’s first floating windfarm was one of the first low-carbon energy projects developed by Norway’s state oil giant Equinor, and today is one of the best performing windfarms ever built.
The government hopes that within the next 10 years there will be enough offshore turbines to power every home in Britain, including more world-leading floating windfarms.
Campaign seeks 1bn people to save climate – one small step at a timeIf a billion people around the world were to take a few small steps and make them into permanent lifestyle changes, global greenhouse gas emissions could be significantly reduced, a new campaign argues.
These actions can be as simple as eating local food, forgoing meat at some meals, and wearing clothes to last instead of throwing them away after a few outings.
Cambridge just dropped its $4.5 billion endowments from fossil fuelsMore and more universities are choosing to divest from fossil fuels, but the University of Cambridge is going one step further and decarbonizing its entire portfolio. Just last week, Cambridge announced it will drop its $4.5 billion endowments from fossil fuels and reduce its holdings in companies that emit greenhouse gases.
RBC becomes first major Canadian bank to refuse to fund oil drilling in Arctic refugeCanada’s largest bank, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), has quietly become the first major financial institution in the country to refuse to fund any oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska.
Royal Ontario Museum Announces Institutional Commitment to Address Global Climate CrisisThe Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) today announced the establishment of the inaugural Allan and Helaine Shiff Curatorship of Climate Change. This critical and timely role, the first of its kind at a major Canadian museum, reflects the ROM’s commitment to ground-breaking research and innovative public engagement on one of the most relevant topics of our day.
“At the heart of our strategic plan is the ROM’s commitment to engage with the pressing ideas and issues that define our times,” says Josh Basseches, Director & CEO, ROM. “Whether it is the climate crisis and its impact on humanity and the natural world, loss of biodiversity and habitats, or the cultural impacts of forced human migration, the ROM has a growing role to play in deepening our understanding of the science and providing evidence-based insights to our many audiences. I am tremendously grateful to the Shiff family for their generous gift that supports the ROM’s ability to bring critical insight to our audiences on how human activity is causing our current climate crisis. And equally important, this endowment will inspire people to help create a more sustainable world for future generations.”
Climate Action Network Canada Responds to Speech from the ThroneToday the Government of Canada delivered the most progressive speech from the throne heard in a generation. The promises made acknowledged the inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic and spoke to the scale of action needed to confront them. Of course, we’ve heard similar promises before from this government. It is the policy and investment decisions made in the coming months that will determine whether the spirit articulated in this historic speech is turned into meaningful action.
12 major cities commit to divest from fossil fuel companies12 cities have made a pledge to divest from fossil fuel companies as part of their commitment to accelerating a green and just recovery from COVID-19.
California moves to end sales of new gas-powered carsCalifornia will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks in 15 years, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday, establishing a timeline in the nation's most populous state that could force U.S. automakers to shift their zero-emission efforts into overdrive.
The plan won't stop people from owning gas-powered cars or selling them on the used car market. But in 2035 it would end the sale of all new such vehicles in the state of nearly 40 million people that accounts for more than one out of every 10 new cars sold in the U.S.
Why seagrass meadows are the carbon capture solution we needAlthough rainforests are vital for capturing carbon from the atmosphere, their efficiency hardly compares to that of seagrass. According to the United Nations Environment Program, seagrass can capture carbon an incredible 35 times faster than rainforests.
The only problem is seagrass covers just a tiny percentage of the seafloor—a meager 0.2 percent—and seagrass meadows around the world are declining. Still, even with that little coverage, seagrass is accounting for 10 percent of the ocean’s capacity to store carbon.
Considering the carbon-capturing power of seagrass, a new scheme called Seagrass Ocean Rescue is looking to reverse the trend by seeding coastal waters around the UK to create new seagrass beds.
Yukon aims to put 200 times more electric vehicles on the road by 2030The Yukon government wants to see more than 4,800 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 as part of its bid to drastically cut the territory’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to its climate change strategy released Sept. 14.
The number of vehicles included in the strategy dwarfs the 22 electric vehicles currently registered in the territory, according to the Yukon Bureau of Statistics, among more than 40,000 cars and trucks registered in total.
To meet this mark, over the next 10 years the government is providing $18.4 million in rebates — including $5,000 for the purchase of an electric vehicle, along with incentives for installing charging stations to keep them going.
Why Canada’s geothermal industry is finally gaining groundHeat from below the Earth’s surface has provided a reliable source of electricity for decades in many countries — but not Canada. Now, several projects underway in western provinces could herald a new era for this untapped resource and offer job opportunities for former oil and gas workers.
- Global oil demand may have passed peak, says BP energy report
BP has called time on the world’s rising demand for fossil fuels after finding that demand for oil may have already reached its peak and faces an unprecedented decades-long decline.
Demand for oil may never fully recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the oil firm, and may begin falling in absolute terms for the first time in modern history.
- Joe Biden if president will push allies like Australia to do more on climate, adviser says
- Ontario government's anti-carbon tax sticker law unconstitutional, court finds
Ontario's government had no right to "stick it to" the federal Liberals by forcing gas stations to display anti-carbon tax stickers, a Superior Court judge said Friday as he struck down the law as unconstitutional.
Justice Edward Morgan said Premier Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative government overstepped in mandating the stickers, saying the Federal Carbon Tax Transparency Act could not be justified under the charter.
- At a Tipping Point -- Towards Healing the Climate
While mainstream environmentalism has historically pursued either preservation or conservation, Schwartz’s new book, The Reindeer Chronicles (Chelsea Green 2020) explores a third option: regeneration. She looks at community efforts to restore ecosystems the world over. “We’ve been trained to believe that finding solutions is a job for the experts,” she writes, but “Earth repair is a participatory sport: a grassroots response to evolving global crises.”
- Climate Is Taking On a Growing Role for Voters, Research Suggests
Concern about global warming is steady despite other crises, a new survey found, and the number of voters who are deeply engaged on the issue is rising sharply.
What’s more, despite the turmoil caused by overlapping national and global crises, support for action to curb climate change has not diminished. Backing for government to do more to deal with global warming, at 68 percent in May of 2018, was at the same level in 2020, according to the survey, issued Monday.
- Underwater Meadows of Seagrass Could Be the Ideal Carbon Sinks
Many ecosystems absorb and store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, and seagrass is one of the most efficient natural carbon storage environments.
- World’s first fossil-free steelmaking starts in northern Sweden
The unique pilot plant in Luleå is a first step in decarbonizing the steel industry, which today accounts for 7% of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
- Exxon dropped from Dow Jones Index
In case anyone doubted the existential threats bearing down on the oil industry, Wall Street delivered another sign that oil and gas companies are in deep trouble this week, with the announcement that ExxonMobil was falling off the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock index. While the decisive blow might have come from the novel coronavirus, which has sent oil demand plummeting, it's becoming harder to dispute that the industry may be in irreversible decline, as governments accelerate efforts to tackle climate change and move away from fossil fuels.
- Building Back Better Could Prevent 112,000 Premature Deaths, Canadian Doctors Say
Meeting Canada’s climate targets could prevent 112,000 premature deaths between 2030 and 2050 due to air quality improvements alone, but achieving those gains will depend on the investments governments make today, according to new modelling released by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
- Parliament prorogued, Trudeau promising throne speech next month
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shut down Parliament and is promising to come back with a new throne speech next month to reset his Liberal government's agenda in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This is our chance to build a more resilient Canada, a Canada that is healthier and safer, greener and more competitive, a Canada that is more welcoming and more fair," he said at a news conference on Parliament Hill. This is our moment to change our future for the better. We can't afford to miss it, because this window of opportunity won't be open for long."
- UK firm's solar power breakthrough could make world's most efficient panels by 2021
Oxford PV claims that the next-generation solar panels will be able to generate almost a third more electricity than traditional silicon-based solar panels by coating the panels with a thin layer of a crystal material called perovskite.
The breakthrough would offer the first major step-change in solar power generation since the technology emerged in the 1950s, and could play a major role in helping to tackle the climate crisis by increasing clean energy.
- Saskatchewan Pilots Hydrogen to Fuel the Future
A hydrogen production pilot project in Saskatchewan could be the start of a new resource economy in Canada, industry insiders say.
"We plan to supply 10 per cent of the world’s energy needs in the form of exported hydrogen by 2040,” Proton Technologies CEO Grant Strem told Canada’s National Observer.
First of its kind in the world, Strem's method can extract hydrogen from orphaned oil wells and repurpose oilfields to produce close to zero-emissions fuel.
- 9 Reasons to Have Climate Hope in 2020
- To Save Our World, We Must End The Carbon Economy
On Tuesday, August 4th The Guardian published an open letter entitled “To Rebuild our World, End the Carbon Economy,” signed by over 100 economists. The statement, notable for its bold prescription of climate action aimed at ending fossil fuel reliance, was signed by leading experts in the field, including Jeff Sachs and Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia, Mariana Mazzucato of UCL, Darrick Hamilton of OSU, Dani Rodrik of Harvard, Gernot Wagner of NYU, and former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich of UC Berkeley.
- Los Angeles Mayor - TED talk on how municipalities can create a more inclusive, green and sustainable society as we rebuild from COVID-19
"If you change your city, you're changing the world," says Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles and chair of C40 Cities, a network of the world's megacities committed to tackling the climate crisis. He shares tangible ways Los Angeles and other cities across the globe are promoting economic and social justice while taking concrete action on climate change -- and talks about how to create a more inclusive, green and sustainable society as we rebuild from COVID-19. (This virtual conversation, hosted by TED's current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was recorded July 7, 2020.)
- New Framework Gives Pension Funds A Blueprint for Net-Zero Investing
A group backed by 70 major investors with more than US$16 trillion under management has launched the Net Zero Investment Framework, the world’s first blueprint to help pension funds and other big investing institutions match the composition of their investment portfolios with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
- 7 things Durham is doing to build a climate-change-resilient community
After declaring a climate emergency in January, Durham Region is taking new steps toward creating a low-carbon, climate-resilient community. Durham regional council, in late June, approved projects for corporate and community-wide climate solutions that will support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs while creating local jobs and attracting private sector investment in the economy.
“Durham Region is committed to action on climate change. These initiatives are the beginning of many aimed at transforming how we live and work in our community. Investing in green infrastructure is an integral part of our transition to a low-carbon economy,” Durham Regional Chairman John Henry said in a news release.
- Microsoft’s astonishing climate change goals explained
Over the past week, I’ve been talking to corporate sustainability experts and people who have worked with, and at, Microsoft. I tried to piece together how big a deal its work on climate is — how seriously to take it, what influence it may have, and where it might fall short.
To spoil the ending: It is a big deal. The company is setting new standards, especially in the rigor and transparency it is applying to the effort, and it is deliberately attempting to bring other companies, both suppliers and competitors, along with it into a world of shared metrics and data. There is more it could do, but it is earning its good climate reputation.
- RBC Becomes First Canadian Bank to Sign Renewable Energy Purchase Agreement
The Royal Bank of Canada, the country’s largest chartered bank and one of its biggest boosters for new fossil infrastructure, is dipping its toe in the world of renewable energy finance by buying into two new solar farms producing a combined 39 megawatts of electricity in southeast Alberta.
- How Costa Rica Slowed, Stopped, Then Reversed Deforestation in Their Rainforests
In the 1970s and 80s, Costa Rica had the highest deforestation rates in Latin America—but the next few decades saw the country halt her forest loss, initiate replanting and conservation efforts, and regrow almost all of her lost tree cover.
Leading the way in the fight against human-accelerated climate change, Costa Rica’s success story of sustainable forestry was strengthened by a simple strategy of valuing forests by paying for their restoration, through their Payment for Environmental Service (PES).
- A climate initiative has had a major side benefit - healthier children
A climate change initiative in the Northeastern U.S. designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions has also greatly reduced harmful air pollution and related impacts to kids' health, such as asthma, preterm births and low birth weights, according to a new study.
- Insurance company Zurich drops coverage for Trans Mountain oil pipeline
Insurer Zurich has decided not to renew cover for the Canadian government’s Trans Mountain oil pipeline, said a spokeswoman for the project, which is opposed by environmental campaigners and some Indigenous groups.
All financial services companies are under pressure from environmental campaigners to cease doing business with the fossil fuel industry.
- Deutsche Bank won't back any new oilsands or coal projects
Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank is joining a lengthening list of European lenders and insurance companies that say they won't back new oilsands projects. The German bank said Monday its new fossil fuels policy will also prohibit investing in projects that use hydraulic fracturing or fracking in countries with scarce water supplies, and all new oil and gas projects in the Arctic region.
It says its ban on oilsands financing, effective immediately, will include exploration, production, transport or processing, seemingly including oilsands pipelines and upgraders or refineries.
- The City of Sydney is now powered by 100% renewable electricity
The City of Sydney, the central borough of the larger Australian metropolis, will now be powered using 100 percent renewable energy, a switch expected to save it $500,000 and 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere over the next 10 years.
- Massive 340,000-panel solar farm to take flight at Edmonton International Airport
A massive renewable energy project roughly the size of 313 CFL football fields could be arriving in Edmonton by the end of 2022.
Edmonton International Airport announced Tuesday plans to build a 627-acre, 120-megawatt solar farm — enough energy to power 27,000 or 28,000 homes — on the west side of its lands as part of an agreement with European-based renewable energy company Alpin Sun. Solar power from the farm would feed into Fortis Alberta and the airport.
- UK government invests in sustainable aviation with creation of ‘Jet Zero Council’
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to enhance the UK’s nascent low carbon aviation sector, confirming the exciting project to form the ‘Jet Zero Council’.
In a daily UK government coronavirus briefing, Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has confirmed government support for green fuel specialist company Velocys, who are building a plant for aviation biofuels in Lincolnshire.
- A 90% Clean Grid Can Be Achieved Quickly. What’s Holding It Back?
Most decarbonization proposals play out over 30 years, aiming toward 2050. But a new roadmap from researchers at UC Berkeley and the policy firm Energy Innovation shows the grid can get to a level of 90% clean in just 15 years' time. No new fossil fuel plants. Lower rates for consumers. 85,000 lives saved. 500,000 additional jobs. Region by region, the researchers lay out exactly how it can be done.
- Goldman Sachs is placing its bets on the future of green energy
The shift to renewables is coming and it’s coming fast. Big industry and financial institutions are finally getting on board with a greener future. This week, Goldman Sachs analysts released a report stating that the transition to renewable power from traditional fuels will create a $16 trillion investment opportunity through 2030.
They project that green energy spending will surpass oil and gas for the first time this coming year and account for roughly 25 percent of all energy spending over the next 12 months. As of 2015, the share of spending was 15 percent, but the dive in fossil fuel investment over the past decade has created a significant shift in these statistics.
- Green recovery fever spreads around the globe
Around the world, national and sub-national governments are grappling with the need to stabilize their economies with emergency financing to support individuals and businesses that are being devastated by shuttered economies. As they plan longer-term stimulus packages, a growing group of them – from the European Union to New York State – are insisting that stimulus spending and tax measures must be consistent with net-zero goals.
- Ethiopia sets out to plant 5 billion trees in 2020
Ethiopia has set out to plant 5 billion trees this year as part of its ambitious plan to plant 20 billion seedlings by 2025 in order to help combat environmental degradation, build resilience, and transition into a green society.
Called the Green Legacy, the broader reforestation plan made headlines last year, when the nation planted nearly 354 million trees in just 12 hours and a total of 4 billion in 2019.
The African country has lost nearly 97 percent of its native forests due to a growing population and an increased need for land for food production. Through the Green Legacy, Ethiopia has committed to restoring 15 million hectares of deforested land by 2025.
- U.S. renewable energy consumption surpasses coal for the first time in over 130 years
In 2019, U.S. annual energy consumption from renewable sources exceeded coal consumption for the first time since before 1885, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Energy Review. This outcome mainly reflects the continued decline in the amount of coal used for electricity generation over the past decade as well as growth in renewable energy, mostly from wind and solar. Compared with 2018, coal consumption in the United States decreased nearly 15%, and total renewable energy consumption grew by 1%.
- Spain: New climate law to ban all new coal, oil and gas projects
Teresa Ribera, the vice president and Minister of Ecology in Spain, has announced the country’s new proposed net-zero carbon plan.
The plan includes cutting the country’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050. Once the law is approved, it would ban all new coal, oil and gas extraction projects with immediate effect.
The draft bill has been approved by the cabinet and is now sent to parliament. Final approval by the parliament is expected to be delivered by the end of the year, according to Business Green.(/p>
- Pandemic or not, Canada still faces a climate crisis — and the clock is ticking
Had things worked out differently, the Liberal government's post-election agenda might have started to take shape this spring with a budget focused on addressing climate change.
That might seem like a missed opportunity now. But responding to an economic crisis brought on by a global pandemic is presenting the government with new opportunities to combat climate change — and the Liberals might be judged by how well they seize this moment.
- Federal Cabinet Ministers Assigned To Chart Post-Covid Green Recovery
Federal cabinet ministers ... have been handed responsibility for crafting “an economic recovery plan that aims to accelerate the green shift” as the immediate COVID-19 crisis subsides, La Presse revealed last week
- Trudeau announces $1.7B to clean up orphan wells
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced $1.7 billion to clean up orphan wells in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, as well as aid for rural businesses and people working in the arts and culture sectors. The money for cleaning up orphan and inactive wells is expected to help maintain 5,200 jobs in Alberta, which will receive about $1 billion of the funding.
- With financial squeeze tightening, coal is collapsing faster than some predicted
Any day now, New York State will be coal-free. Its last coal-fired power station, at Somerset on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, will shut for good as the winter ends. Remember when Donald Trump promised to bring back coal? Well, three years on, coal’s decline is accelerating—in the United States and worldwide.
- BC Campaign to convert school buses to Electric
Just days after Prince Edward Island pledged to make the province’s entire school bus fleet all-electric, a network of parents has launched to convince other provincial governments to follow suit. The new organization, For Our Kids, is starting in British Columbia where the provincial government is actively looking to accelerate climate action to meet its targets.
- Windsor Aims for Deep Energy Retrofit in 80% of Homes by 2041
Windsor’s supervisor for environmental sustainability and climate change, Karina Richters, said the average home in the city was built in 1955, a time when building codes included no requirements for insulation. “So we know we have an inefficient building stock, especially in those homes that haven’t had any sort of retrofit.”
Committee member Kieran McKenzie stressed council’s moral duty to help citizens take action. “I truly believe that we can’t afford to not make the investments that are being proposed here, and what we see in front of us is a roadmap to help us get to where we, as a community, need to be,” he said.
- Peterborough School Board agrees to consider the environment more seriously
A group of students stood together on Tuesday night to call on their school board to become more environmentally conscious.
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board trustees answered the call, agreeing to commit to ecological sustainability in the board's education, strategic and corporate practices.
- Heathrow third runway ruled illegal over climate change
Plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport have been ruled illegal by the court of appeal because ministers did not adequately take into account the government’s commitments to tackle the climate crisis.
The ruling is a major blow to the project at a time when public concern about the climate emergency is rising fast and the government has set a target in law of net zero emissions by 2050. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, could use the ruling to abandon the project, or the government could draw up a new policy document to approve the runway.
- GHG emissions flat for 2019
Global energy-related CO2 emissions "flattened" in 2019 following two years of increases owing to greater use of renewables and an accelerating shift from coal to gas, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday. Electricity generation produced around 33 billion tonnes of CO2 last year, defying forecasts that emissions from power would continue their upward trend.
- Good news from the Financial World
More and more corporations are becoming leaders on climate policy. It doesn’t really matter that they are doing so because of concerns about the impacts of climate change on their bottom line or because consumers and employees are demanding action. What matters is keeping carbon out of the atmosphere.
- UPS orders 10,000 electric delivery trucks
The UPS deal implies that the base price of an Arrival van will be about £34,000, compared to a £27,900 sticker price for a new Ford Transit with an internal combustion engine – although with lower maintenance and fuel costs the total cost of ownership for electric vans could be lower.
- Parliamentary Budget Officer Sees Most Households Coming Out Ahead From Federal Carbon Price
Most households in provinces subject to the federal government’s backstop price on carbon will get more money back in rebates than they pay out in taxes, though less than Ottawa projected last year, the non-partisan Parliamentary Budget Officer concluded in a new analysis released this week.
- UK Petrol and diesel car sales ban brought forward to 2035
A ban on selling new petrol, diesel, or hybrid cars in the UK will be brought forward from 2040 to 2035 at the latest, under government plans.
- Danish electricity company to be carbon neutral by 2025
By 2025, Ørsted plans to be the first carbon neutral utility, as it rapidly scales up its wind power business and converts its coal plants to biomass.
- School kids brilliant rap video
Pupils at one small national school outside Bantry in west Cork have made a very impressive rap song and video talking about their concerns over climate change.
