fossil fuels
Related content
The built environment: Leading the way with LEDs
Lighting makes our world. Imagine the London skyline at night without the millions of lights illuminating the city, or trying to navigate your office, local shopping centre or even your home with just a candle... Like it or not, the built environment is completely dependent on lighting to provide us with the internal environments we need and expect.
Urgent greenhouse gas removal plan could see UK hit 'net zero' target - report
Tree-planting, restoring wetlands and using chemicals to take carbon dioxide from the air will all be needed to reduce the UK's greenhouse gases in line with government plans, scientists have said.
Report: Fossil fuel demand to peak in the 2020s due to clean energy growth
The global transition to clean energy and low-carbon technologies is set to be much quicker than previously expected, with worldwide demand for fossil fuels set to peak in the 2020s.
Machine makers are leading the way to low-carbon
With regulators and markets increasingly demanding the decarbonisation of high-emitting sectors, we are on the verge of a low-carbon industrial revolution. However, to get over the line the products and services supplied to these sectors need to transform.
Report: Clean energy stocks no longer outpacing fossil fuel investments
Clean energy investments by 200 of the world's leading corporations have underperformed compared to fossil fuel energy stocks over the past year and a half, new figures have revealed.
More than 5,500 UK churches now running on renewables
British churches have diverted more than £5m from fossil fuels, with more than 5,500 places of worship putting their faith in clean energy by switching to renewables.
Stepping up the global energy transformation: Why Mars Australia commits to 100% renewable electricity
Major brands like ours have an opportunity to lead in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future. A new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that businesses are stepping up their use, procurement and investment in renewable electricity. While this is good news, only 17% of us have a specific target for renewable electricity and a mere 134 have committed to 100% renewable electricity use.
IEA warns of 'worrying trend' as global investment in renewables falls
The world's energy watchdog has sounded the alarm over a "worrying" pause in the shift to clean energy after global investment in renewables fell 7% to $318bn (£240bn) last year.
The Climate Coach: Renewable Energy
I have a dream, of a society where children play safely outside in green, common areas, where there are no cars. People travel to work in electric powered trains, buses and through electric car share. They walk and cycle to school, to the local shop and to meet friends. A dream where renewable energy sources provide all the power we need - for heating, electricity and transport - in businesses as well as in homes.
Ireland becomes world's first country to divest from fossil fuels
The Republic of Ireland will become the world's first country to sell off its investments in fossil fuel companies, after a bill was passed with all-party support in the lower house of parliament.
'Carbon bubble' could spark global financial crisis, study warns
Plunging prices for renewable energy and rapidly increasing investment in low-carbon technologies could leave fossil fuel companies with trillions in stranded assets and spark a global financial crisis, a new study has found.
G7 countries pour $100bn a year into oil, gas and coal: study
Each year, at least $100bn goes to support the production and consumption of oil, gas and coal, according to a major new study published on Monday (4 June). That is despite a promise from all G7 and G20 members to stop subsidising fossil fuels by 2025.
Top pension funds and insurers failing to engage with climate risks
Some of the UK's biggest pension funds are failing to address climate-related impacts, while 25 of the world's largest insurance brokers continue to invest in coal or tar sands projects, two damning reports have claimed this week.
The danger of being positive
Positive things are being reported in the world of sustainability but is this a "false dawn" and we may prematurely assume success is inevitable and thereby prevent it.
Banking industry one of UK's 'most unethical sectors'
The UK's big five high street banks are hindering the sector's efforts to tackle climate change by continuing to profit from some of the world's dirtiest fossil fuel projects.
Developing nations call for 'urgent' action to develop Paris Agreement rulebook
A network of some of the least developed countries in the world has called on developed economies to turn "concepts into action" by accelerating the implementation of a 'rule book' for the Paris Agreement through increased climate finance.
Climate policies place $1.6trn fossil fuel costs at risk, report warns
Fossil fuel companies are exposed to $1.6trn in potential expenditure by basing business decisions on existing policies rather than international climate goals, while businesses committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity will require $94bn to reach their goals.
Why cities are switching to renewables
Over two years after national leaders committed in Paris to keep a global temperature rise to below 2C, municipal leaders at some of the world's largest cities are stepping up to the challenge and harnessing the power of renewable energy.
UK is plugged in, as global car industry speeds away from fossil fuels
The car industry remains a vital part of the global economy. Both on its own terms - global revenues from vehicle sales reached over US$2 trillion last year - and as a sector that influences the wider global economy.
8 global sustainability trends to watch out for in 2018
Over the past 12 months, challenges around addressing sustainability issues have featured consistently in global headlines. Despite mixed political messages about our transition to a low-carbon future, the private sector has continued to drive sustainability up the business agenda; from Science Based Targets (SBTs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to increased investor scrutiny over non-financial reporting.
Edinburgh and SOAS fulfil university divestment pledges
SOAS University of London has fulfilled a pledge to divest from fossil fuels within three years, in the same week that the University of Edinburgh became the largest university endowment fund to completely to divest away from coal, oil and gas.
Capacity Market Auction: 'Bizarre' Government policies blocking renewables funding
The provisional results of the latest Capacity Market Auction were released by National Trust today (2 February), leading to the closure on a coal-fired power plant and concerns from the renewables sector that clean technologies are being blocked from finance.
Ørsted chief calls for 'high pace' climate and SDG action
Danish energy giant Ørsted's chief executive has highlighted the severe threats of climate change and the unique opportunities of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the company's latest sustainability report, which outlined the company's transition away from fossil fuels.
Lloyd's of London to divest from coal over climate change
Lloyd's of London, the world's oldest insurance market, has become the latest financial firm to announce that it plans to stop investing in coal companies.
Adnams: Our transition to 100% Renewable Electricity
Transitioning away from polluting, finite fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy is something that a growing cohort of responsible businesses are doing. The likes of the Sustainable Development Goals, Science Based Targets, RE100, CDP and others have brought home the importance. More directly, we have always told the business case for sustainability in three elements: business resilience, cost saving, and brand reputation
Trump will drop climate change from US National Security Strategy
The Trump administration will drop climate change from a list of global threats in a new National Security Strategy the president is due to unveil on Monday.
World Bank, major businesses and nations unite against coal funding
The One Planet Summit in Paris has signalled the beginning of the end for the coal industry, after the World Bank, numerous financial institutions and a group of nations and major businesses all pledged to phase out fossil fuel funding and use.
Corbyn backs MP pension divestment as business leaders call for improved climate disclosure
A group of 100 MPS, including Labour's Jeremy Corbyn and the the Green Party's Caroline Lucas, have called for a £612m pension fund to divest from fossil fuels, while leading chief financial officers have endorsed the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.
Fossil fuel burning set to hit record high in 2017, scientists warn
The burning of fossil fuels around the world is set to hit a record high in 2017, climate scientists have warned, following three years of flat growth that raised hopes that a peak in global emissions had been reached.
High street banks still financing fossil fuel growth
The UK's high street banks are profiting from some of the world's dirtiest fossil fuel projects despite committing to deliver the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming to below 2C.
Huge private sector investment puts Paris climate target in reach, says report
At least one trillion dollars are being invested globally in ways to reduce the threat of climate change, including renewable power, energy efficiency, and public transport around the world.
edie Explains: Building energy management systems (BEMS)
In the latest in the edie Explains series, we look at building energy management systems (BEMS), exploring what they are, what they do and what the business benefit is.
Utility giant acquires off-grid solar specialists Fenix International
French utility giant ENGIE is continuing its transition away from fossil fuels, after announcing the acquisition of a next generation energy company that offers decentralised solar solutions to communities across Africa.
Deep breath: change the conversation
Air quality in our towns and cities is a critical issue but action and progress will be sorely limited unless we grasp the challenge of awareness, behaviour and pro-active communications.
Transport sucks up nearly half of Europe's fossil fuel subsidies, report finds
European countries spend more than €112 billion per year subsidising oil, gas and coal production or consumption - including tax breaks on highly-polluting diesel - despite a pledge to phase out fossil fuels completely by 2020.
Why Reporting 3.0 could mend the “broken” economic model highlighted by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Why sustainability specialist Nicola Stopps thinks a new economic model could provide what human beings need from a financial system.
World set to exhaust carbon budget in 2040s, despite predicted energy plateau
A "watershed moment in human history" will occur in 2030 as energy demand plateaus, although the rapid decarbonisation of the global energy supply will still deplete the carbon budget for the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2041.
Carbon tax could wipe out polluters' profits in pursuit of Paris targets
More than $1.5tn (£1.2tn) in company profits worldwide could be erased by taxes required to meet the Paris climate agreement, according to analysis by Schroders.
Cost of Energy Review: will it deliver lower bills?
Earlier this month, BEIS announced details of its 'independent review to ensure energy is affordable for households and businesses'. Here are my initial thoughts on whether or not it will deliver lowest cost, sustainable energy services for consumers.
Clean energy stocks outpacing fossil fuel investments in Trump era, report finds
Global clean energy stocks have surged past investments in fossil fuels in the past year despite the political shockwaves caused by Donald Trump's US presidency, new research has found.
Rise of electric car solves little if driven by fossil fuels, warns windfarm boss
The rise of electric cars will be a pyrrhic victory for the environment if they are powered by fossil fuels instead of renewables, according to the UK boss of the world's biggest offshore windfarm developer.
Britain spent 'twice as much on overseas fossil fuels as renewables'
The UK has spent more than twice as much overseas support on fossil fuels projects as on renewable ones so far this decade, according to research commissioned by the Catholic aid agency Cafod.
It’s getting hot in here: how to create warmth without burning fossil fuels
As the UK continues to battle its way to an 80% reduction of its carbon emissions by 2050, a sinking feeling has begun to set in for those who are aware of and involved with decarbonising the UK. Our current infrastructure and policies do not provide the right basis required to transition to a low-carbon economy at speed.
New industrial air pollution ruling puts EU coal plants on 'life support'
Large industrial plants have been given a four-year timeframe to adhere to new standards on air pollutants across the European Union (EU), a decision that places "the immediate future of coal plants into doubt", according to environmental lawyers ClientEarth.
Fossil fuel subsidies racking up trillions in health costs
Health costs related to fossil fuel use outweigh taxpayer-funded subsidies by 600%, according to a new study that insists governments should stop pumping money into dirty energy sources.
CDP: Top mining firms risking $16bn in climate costs
The world's largest mining companies are producing up to $16bn in emissions costs in their value chain, according to a report released today (20 July) by climate change research provider CDP.
Building support for bioenergy in the new political climate
This year, Clearfleau is building on-site bio-energy plants for dairy, food and distillery businesses and will be doing more of these in 2018, with many new plants being built in Scotland.
Aligning with the SDGs can bring power to the people
In formulating its approach to being a responsible business, a company should look first to its strengths and attributes rather than adopting a "nice to do" philosophy. For example, it makes sense for a technology and innovation-led business such as ours to use appropriate and smart technology to change people's lives.
Speaking out on sustainability
Recently, my son's school invited me to come in and give a presentation on what I do as the global sustainability director at Mars. I've spoken with business leaders inside and outside of Mars, policy makers, NGOs and journalists on multiple continents. But I've never had to tell that story to 30 kids between the ages of 8 and 13 (with my son watching, no less...)
Donald in Wonderland - US withdrawal from the Paris agreement
Trump just wishes that climate change would go away. We would all like climate change to be a dream. Some hard choices could be avoided, and we could keep environmentally damaging luxuries, such as fast cars and golf resorts.
Trump's Paris pullout may mean less for climate action than we think
Almost universal condemnation has greeted President Trump's decision to withdraw from and renegotiate American participation in the Paris Agreement. But energy industry experts I have spoken to are less concerned.
UK financial markets exposed to embedded fossil fuel reserves
UK businesses and investors may be inadvertently sitting on more than 15,000 tonnes of stranded fossil fuel asset emissions that could impact how the nation commits to a 2C energy scenario, new research has found.
UK's £350m coal subsidies clash with Government's phase-out pledges
The UK is providing £356m annually in coal subsidies, despite the UK Government denying that it provides financial support for fossil fuels, a new report has claimed.
MPs demand fossil fuel divestment for pension fund
Fifty MPs standing for re-election, including the Green Party's Caroline Lucas and the Conservative Party's Laura Sandys, have called for their £612m pension fund to sever investment ties with fossil fuels.
Beware false sustainability solutions
It is inescapable and undeniable that we live in a finite world. It is also becoming widely accepted that we are using resources and polluting air, land and water at unsustainable levels. That's why the term 'sustainability' is pervading many aspects of government policy, locally, nationally and internationally, and prompting business and industry to radically change the ways they operate.
Planning for a circular economy
The Environmental Services Association, the voice of the UK’s resource and waste management industry, has set out a number of recommendations to more closely align the planning system with the strategic objectives of the circular economy.
Europe's energy giants set to overshoot Paris Agreement 'carbon budget'
Europe's major utilities companies are "locked" into high emission projects, placing €14bn of earnings at risk unless they realign strategies with the goals of the Paris Agreement, a new CDP report has found.
Study: Backing fossil fuels is economically and politically irresponsible
A shift away from fossil fuels to renewables is needed at international level if the targets of the Paris climate deal are to be met. The Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue wants to set an example by bringing plenty new to the table.
How to win the war on waste in the UK
Many EU senior officials are now saying that the move to a circular economy is an economic and environmental necessity. As fossil fuels subsidies come to an end and the UK triggers Article 50, there is a sense of urgency to create a society where nothing is wasted to ensure we don't fall behind the rest of Europe and the world in our actions to save the planet.
Energy transition of 'exceptional scope' can unlock $10trn annually
Global energy-related carbon emissions can be reduced by 70% by 2050, generating $10trn a year in benefits, if countries ramp-up national commitments to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, a new report has found.
EPA head Scott Pruitt denies that carbon dioxide causes global warming
Scott Pruitt, Donald Trump's head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, has dismissed a basic scientific understanding of climate change by denying that carbon dioxide emissions are a primary cause of global warming.
Renewables reaching cost-parity with fossil fuels, research finds
Low-carbon technologies are now reaching cost-parity with fossil fuels, according to a new report which states that solar cell technology is likely to have a "major impact" in the near future.
Low-carbon boom to stall fossil fuel demand by 2020, say researchers
The demand for coal and oil will peak in 2020 as low-carbon technology prices continue to tumble, a new report which examines the energy sector has claimed.
World Bank quashes fossil fuel funding claims
The World Bank has criticised what it believes are "grossly misrepresented" findings from the Bank Information Center (BIC), which has claimed that up to $5bn in intended low-carbon funds have instead been used to introduce tax breaks for fossil fuel developments in developing countries.
Green movement 'greatest threat to freedom', says Trump adviser
The environmental movement is "the greatest threat to freedom and prosperity in the modern world", according to an adviser to the US president Donald Trump's administration.
Fossil fuel divestment funds double to $5tn in a year
The value of investment funds committed to selling off fossil fuel assets has jumped to $5.2tn, doubling in just over a year.
28 days later: What we know so far about the climate impact of Trump
In the first 28 days since Donald Trump's presidential triumph in the US elections, edie investigates the initial impact of the climate change denier's victory on the global green economy.
Leaked EU energy package subsidises fossil fuels, undermines renewables
The EU claims to be promoting an ambitious agenda at the Marrakesh climate conference, but its latest piece of energy legislation could subsidise new coal capacity and undermine market access for renewables.
Does Donald Trump's Presidential triumph spell the end of America's climate progress?
Donald Trump has pulled off one of the biggest electoral shocks in US history, beating Democrat Hillary Clinton to become the 45th US President. edie explores what this could mean for the country's future international leadership on climate action.
Banks not living up to climate pledges, says Christian Aid
Charity organisation Christian Aid has today (November 7) kick-started a campaign calling on UK's major high street banks to rapidly shift investments from fossil fuels to clean energy.
World Energy Council: Energy demand to peak at 2030 as part of 'grand transition'
Disruptive trends and technology, such as the rise of renewables and the electrification of the transport sector, will create a "fundamentally new world" for the energy industry, which would see energy demand and fossil fuel use peak before 2030.
Solar outstrips coal in past six months of UK electricity generation
Electricity generated by solar panels on fields and homes outstripped Britain's ageing coal power stations over the past six months in a historic first.
Global cost-effectiveness of renewables revealed amid fears over domestic energy security
New analysis has highlighted the need for policymakers and investors to exploit the global cost-effectiveness of renewable power generation, as the Renewable Energy Association (REA) casts a doubt over the UK Government's willingness to prioritise energy security in post-Brexit negotiations.
UK churches show faith in renewable energy suppliers
Figures released today (1 September) have revealed that 3,500 UK churches have switched electricity suppliers to those that will only source renewable electricity, while US architects have also demanded new legislative action on climate change.
From Exxon to Jack Black: The call for a global carbon price is gathering pace
As the Paris Agreement nears its crucial ratification stage, individuals, organisations and entire nations are beginning to ease away from fossil fuels in their energy consumption habits. Now, with COP22 in Marrakech just around the corner, the call for a carbon price is becoming hard to ignore.
Sustainable energy – what is it and how do we measure it?
Energy is the underlying currency behind everything we do. It's a requirement for all human activity, commercial or otherwise, whether it needs calories, kilowatts or is an embedded component of the goods or raw materials we buy.
UN criticises UK and Germany for betraying Paris climate deal
Ban Ki-moon's climate change envoy has accused the UK and Germany of backtracking on the spirit of the Paris climate deal by financing the fossil fuel industry through subsidies.
Does the Paris Agreement hinge on a fossil fuel 'implosion'?
While the Paris Climate Accord has united 190 countries in attempting to halt the effects of climate change, separate research has suggested that Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) won't be enough to reach a 2C pathway, with fossil fuel production set to foil efforts.
Asia Pulp & Paper backs community-led Indonesian biofuels project
One of the world's biggest pulp, paper and packaging firms has announced its support for a new community-led pilot scheme aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels and increasing the availability of bio-fuels in Indonesia.
Why the world's energy system WON'T achieve the 2C climate change target without serious investment
By the year 2040, renewables will finally have won the global energy race. The prices of coal and gas will have dropped significantly, but this will not derail the decarbonisation of our energy systems - with zero-emission energy sources making up 60% of installed capacity.
G7 nations commit to ending 'inefficient' fossil fuel subsidies by 2025
Plans to drive a low-carbon transition as part of the recent Paris Agreement have been given a timely boost, after the G7 nations agreed a landmark deal to end the majority of fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.
Investor pressure not enough as big oil baulks on climate change
During a 'do or die' week for three of the largest big oil companies, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell continue to rally against growing external pressure to adapt to a low-carbon pathway, warning that the shift would take an "unprecedented amount of effort".
World could warm by massive 10C if all fossil fuels are burned
The planet would warm by searing 10C if all fossil fuels are burned, according to a new study, leaving some regions uninhabitable and wreaking profound damage on human health, food supplies and the global economy.
Carbon capture key to unlocking 'unburnable' fossil fuel resources
Refining Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) techniques would unlock the use of "unburnable carbon" as a viable energy source that would still keep the world on a 2C pathway if coupled with renewable energy, new research has suggested.
Elon Musk: Politicians taking 'easy path' with fossil fuel subsidies
Tesla's chief executive Elon Musk has accused politicians of bowing to the "unrelenting and enormous" lobbying power of the fossil fuel industry, warning that a global "revolt" may be needed to accelerate the transition to more sustainable energy and transport systems.
Six charts that show how public support for UK renewables has reached record levels
Public support for the UK's renewables revolution has reached an all-time high, with the latest Public Attitudes survey from the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) revealing that eight in 10 Brits support the uptake of clean technology.
The known unknown of Britain's low-carbon progress
At last week's Effective Energy Management Conference, Rolls-Royce's director of energy gave a frightfully honest answer to a question about how his firm will reach an ambitious 50% energy reduction target.
EU dropped climate policies after BP threat of oil industry 'exodus'
The EU abandoned or weakened key proposals for new environmental protections after receiving a letter from a top BP executive which warned of an exodus of the oil industry from Europe if the proposals went ahead.
UK churches give up fossil fuels for Lent
Negotiations are underway to move at least £1m away from fossil fuels and into clean energy, as more than 400 churches across the UK begin to switch to renewable energy providers.
$1tn could be wasted on 'unneeded' new coal plants, report warns
Almost $1tn of investment in new coal-fired power stations could be wasted if growing concerns about climate change and air pollution leave the plants unused, according to a new report.
What have we done to upset HMG?
Is it possible that one of the minor provisions of the latest Budget will fall foul of the 'Law of Unintended Consequences' and actually increase carbon emissions and climate change?
UK firms missing out on renewables revolution
The business benefits of making the switch from fossil fuels to renewables have been made even clearer today (2 March) with a new report revealing that clean electricity adds less than 1% to power bills, drives employee engagement and wins new customers.
Clean energy investment surges past fossil fuels to new heights
Against a precarious backdrop of tumbling oil prices, 2015 saw $367bn invested into new renewable power capacity and generators - $114bn more than what was spent on new fossil fuel generation - a new report has found.
UK's low-carbon energy generation soared in 2015, but so did oil production
Low-carbon energy sources rose to account for 43% of the UK's electricity supply last year, but oil production saw its first significant increase this millennium, provisional figures released today (25 February) have revealed.
UK councils warned of 'severe penalties' of fossil fuel divestment
Local authorities have been warned that they will face "severe penalties" if they divest from fossil fuel holdings or boycott oil, coal or gas firms in procurement tenders, the UK government has said.
Fossil fuels will reign supreme for next two decades, claims BP
BP has been accused of using its energy outlook reports as a 'public relations exercise' after the oil giant's latest analysis suggests that fossil fuels would still be providing 80% of global energy supplies in 2035.
"Mr Cameron, you're making an enormous mistake" - Mark Ruffalo slams PM over UK fracking plans
Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo has sent a passionate plea to UK Prime Minister David Cameron to stop fracking in the UK and instead embrace the global renewable energy revolution.
ExxonMobil explores biofuel extraction from agricultural waste
Oil powerhouse ExxonMobil will explore new ways of producing biofuel from agricultural waste, after agreeing a partnership with biodiesel producers Renewable Energy Group (REG).
Help on making an RSS Feed
