European agriculture is facing mounting pressure from climate change, extreme weather, rising costs and unstable markets, leaving many European farmers struggling to remain financially viable. A hot, dry summer severely damaged crops across the continent, with frost destroying almonds, extreme heat disrupting tomato production and drought reducing pumpkin and grain harvests. Europe’s forecast grain harvest …
The global clean energy transition can appear slower than it really is when viewed only through worldwide energy consumption. Rising populations, economic growth and increasing energy demand allow both fossil fuels and renewable energy to grow simultaneously. However, looking at individual markets reveals that substitution is already occurring as cleaner technologies begin replacing older energy …
Continue reading “Clean energy transition is already underway”
Recent restrictions affecting Starlink services used by Ukraine have renewed concerns about how dependent modern militaries have become on privately operated satellite systems. Ukrainian forces reported that Starlink connections were being restricted when receivers travelled faster than around 160 kilometres per hour, potentially affecting drones and other moving systems. Although service was partially restored, the …
Continue reading “European satellite network boosts independence”
Wood Mackenzie’s latest global analysis of the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) shows a major transformation taking place in the economics of power generation. Falling renewable energy and battery storage costs are increasingly challenging fossil fuels, particularly gas-fired power plants. One of the report’s most significant findings is that four-hour battery storage is now cheaper …
Continue reading “Battery storage is now beating gas on cost”
As living standards rise across emerging economies, concerns that economic development will trigger another global fossil fuel boom may be misplaced. Instead of following the path taken by Europe and the United States, many developing countries are increasingly building their economies around renewable electricity, particularly solar and wind power. Falling technology costs, expanding electricity access …
Continue reading “Renewable electricity powers emerging economies”
As countries rapidly expand clean energy, competition for land is becoming an increasingly important challenge. Large wind and solar developments can require significant areas and sometimes face opposition from communities concerned about land use. At the same time, much more low-carbon electricity will be needed to address climate change and strengthen energy security. One potential …
Continue reading “Floating power plants expand clean energy”
A new scientific tool is helping translate carbon emissions from fossil fuel projects into measurable impacts on people and ecosystems. Called the Carbon Impacts Tracer, the tool uses peer-reviewed climate research to show how a specific quantity of carbon dioxide can contribute to extreme heat, coral bleaching, food production losses, glacier decline and heat-related deaths. …
Mangrove restoration is increasingly being linked to global carbon markets, creating new sources of climate finance while raising questions about who actually benefits. On Pakistan’s Indus delta coast, a 350,000-hectare mangrove project illustrates this tension. By absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, restored forests can generate mangrove carbon credits that are sold to companies seeking to …
Continue reading “Mangrove carbon credits and coastal communities”
