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Ikea surpasses renewable energy generation milestone after installing 920,000 solar panels
Ikea's parent company Ingka Group generated more renewable energy that it consumed last year, marking a milestone on its vision to become a "planet-positive" business.
Biden signs flurry of executive orders on nature conservation and fossil fuels
After re-committing the US to the Paris Agreement last week, President Biden has this week signed a string of executive orders around nature conservation and minimising emissions from the energy sector.
Bank of England's high-carbon financing a 'moral hazard', MPs warn
The Bank of England risks creating 'moral hazard' by continuing to finance high-carbon projects and companies and providing no-strings-attached financing to carbon intensives companies, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has warned.
Legal bid to stop UK from building Europe's biggest gas-fired power plant fails
The Court of Appeal has thrown out a legal challenge to the UK Government's decision to grant planning permission for Drax's major new gas-fired power plant.
Kwasi Kwarteng admits 'tension' between UK's new coal mine and climate ambitions
BEIS Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has admitted that the Government's decision not to intervene with the planning process for a new coal mine in Cumbria is at odds with its domestic climate targets and the messages it wants to send as COP26 host.
IEA: Oil and gas sector must 'lock in' methane emissions reductions seen amid Covid-19 lockdowns
Methane emissions from the global oil and gas industry fell 10% year-on-year in 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has revealed. But the body believes this is mostly because of lockdown restrictions, rather than heightened environmental ambitions.
McKinsey: Global fossil fuel demand will peak in 2027
One of the world's largest consultancies has published analysis outlining how global fossil fuel demand could peak by 2027. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic accelerating trends in electrification and energy efficiency.
UK's coal power spikes amid cold snap, despite 'greenest year on record' for electricity in 2020
Coal and gas have routinely accounted for 60% of electricity generation in Britain over the past week, sparking concerns around the nation's ability to maintain energy security in a low-carbon manner during winter weather conditions.
Investors file climate resolution at HSBC
Investors with a combined $2.4trn in assets under management have filed a resolution at HSBC, calling on the bank to publish a strategy that outlines efforts to reduce exposure to fossil fuel assets.
ExxonMobil discloses emissions of oil and gas product use for the first time
ExxonMobil has disclosed the full extent of its Scope 3 (indirect) emissions from the final use of its energy products, which are more than Canada's national annual emissions.
Five EU countries object to bloc's latest hydrogen 'manifesto'
Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain have issued a joint letter calling on the EU to clearly prioritise renewable energies under an EU-led project aiming to accelerate hydrogen deployment, research and infrastructure.
UK's oil and gas sector outlines net-zero vision, but remains reluctant to downsize
The watchdog for the UK's oil and gas industry has published a strategy designed to align businesses with the 2050 net-zero target, but green groups want more done to cap production and increase investment in renewables.
Lloyds of London finally agrees to divest from coal
Insurance giant Lloyds of London has promised to end investment in coal, oil sands and fossil fuel exploration in the Arctic, following years a pressure from climate campaigners.
Net-zero impact on UK economy to be 'relatively small', Treasury finds
The HM Treasury has published a final report in the build-up to a Net-Zero Spending Review, claiming that the transition to meeting the UK's long-term climate goals could deliver "slightly positive or slightly negative" economic growth for the UK, depending on how decisive policy action is.
ExxonMobil's new climate targets slammed by investors and green groups
US-based oil major ExxonMobil has outlined new emissions reduction targets through to 2025, but green groups have called them "woefully inadequate" and investors are pushing for a restructure to its board of directors.
Five things you need to know about the Energy White Paper
After months of delays, the UK Government finally unveiled its Energy White Paper on Monday (14 December) detailing how an overhaul to transport, energy and infrastructure will deliver an "overwhelmingly decarbonised power in the 2030s" on the road to net-zero by 2050.
UK Government to end support for overseas fossil fuel projects
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that the UK Government will end financing and support for overseas fossil fuel projects in the build-up to COP26 in 2021.
'A game-changer': UK's green economy leaders react to the Sixth Carbon Budget
Green groups and trade bodies have broadly welcomed the Climate Change Committee's Sixth Carbon Budget, headlined by a recommendation to cut annual emissions by 78% by 2035. But they want to see the Government act rapidly and boldly to prove it can deliver.
Uniper targets carbon neutrality by 2050, outlines coal-free vision
German multinational energy giant Uniper has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality across its global business by 2050, outlining new goals around coal phase-outs and green hydrogen.
Green recovery: UK urged to accelerate 'just' transition from North Sea oil and gas
With thousands of UK-based oil and gas workers on furlough and the sector's economic recovery likely to be slow, policymakers are facing calls to cap North Sea fossil fuel production and reskill communities for low-carbon industries.
Renewable or 'low-carbon'? EU countries face off over hydrogen
EU member states are fighting over which type of hydrogen to support, with two opposing camps facing off: those backing green hydrogen produced exclusively from renewable electricity, and those in favour of a broader "low-carbon" definition, which also includes nuclear power and decarbonised gases.
Emissions from energy sector likely to rebound from Covid-19, Capgemini warns
Emissions from the global energy sector will be 7-8% lower in 2020 than in 2019, but most nations are still failing to align their energy generation and consumption patterns with long-term climate targets, Capgemini is warning.
Equinor sets 2050 net-zero target, says 'peak oil' is likely in 2030
Norwegian energy major Equinor has set a 2050 net-zero target, going beyond its previous commitment to reach 'near-zero' emissions for North Sea operations.
UK's Covid-19 recovery package for energy 'not net-zero aligned', report finds
The UK Government has earmarked £3.8bn of stimulus funding for legacy fossil fuel and nuclear generation, compared to just £121m for renewables, a damning new report has claimed.
Banks and agribusiness linked to biodiversity loss
Some of the world's largest banks have been linked to industries that are causing mass deforestation and biodiversity loss, with some in the finance sector providing loans and underwriting worth more than $2.6trn to climate-wrecking initiatives.
Unilever expects to double use of recycled plastics in next 12 months
Unilever has confirmed that 10% of its plastic footprint now consists of post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR), as the company pushes ahead to meet a target of halving the use of virgin plastic.
Government to publish 'comprehensive' net-zero strategy in build up to COP26
The UK Government has responded to the latest Committee on Climate Change (CCC) progress report, pledging to publish a "comprehensive" strategy that will detail how all parts of the economy will decarbonise in line with the national net-zero emissions target for 2050.
Lawmakers vote to exclude fossil fuels from EU recovery fund
The environment committee in the European Parliament has voted to exclude fossil fuels from support under the EU's €750bn recovery fund intended to boost the bloc's economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
Low-carbon transition: Even best-prepared fossil fuel majors 'to see half of portfolios become uncompetitive'
While European oil and gas majors are diversifying their portfolios to include more renewables, setting stricter climate targets and adjusting their oil price predictions, at least half of their operations won't be competitive in a 1.6C world, a new report claims.
Total to increase annual renewables investments to $3bn by 2030
French oil & gas major Total has pledged to increase its annual investments in renewables by 50% by 2030, against the $2bn allocated in 2019, as it strives to meet a 2050 net-zero target.
UK Government reps 'discussing potential COP26 sponsorship deals with oil majors'
Despite a promise to ensure that COP26's corporate sponsors are "making real contributions" to climate action, government representatives have reportedly been in discussions with some of the world's highest emitting firms, including Equinor, BP and Shell.
Cambridge University to divest £3.5bn fund from fossil fuels as part of net-zero ambition
The University of Cambridge will divest its £3.5bn endowment fund from fossil fuels by 2030, as part of a wider plan to reduce the University's emissions to net-zero by 2038.
London and Bristol vow to divest from fossil fuel companies as part of Covid-19 recovery plans
The mayors of 12 major global cities, including London and Bristol in the UK and Berlin, Milan and Oslo in Europe, have committed to "take all possible steps" to divest their city assets from fossil fuel companies.
China's carbon-neutral target for 2060: What does it mean for global climate action?
The world's largest emitting country, China, has pledged to carbon neutrality by 2060, in a surprising yet welcome move that will boost global negotiations on climate action ahead of next year's COP26 summit.
#SustyTalk: Lloyds Banking Group's James Wilde on financing the green recovery
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with Lloyds Banking Group's head of sustainability James Wilde taking part in a virtual discussion on financing the green recovery, as well as providing an update on the bank's efforts to halve its emissions.
Unilever's Persil switches to bio-based formula and recycled plastic bottles
Unilever-owned cleaning brand Persil has launched a new liquid formulation made from plant-based stain removers and biodegradable ingredients that will be packaged in fully recyclable bottles made from 50% post-consumer recycled plastic.
Alok Sharma promises 'joined-up thinking' on net-zero policy, but examples remain scarce
Business Secretary Alok Sharma delivered rhetoric that the Government will approach the net-zero emissions commitment for 2050 through a "joined-up thinking" approach, but was unable to confirm any concrete policy announcements that would ensure fossil fuels aren't locked into the future economy.
BEIS to review whether UK's oil and gas licencing regime is net-zero compatible
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will review whether its plans for the future oil and gas licencing regime are "aligned with tackling climate change" and compatible with the UK's 2050 net-zero target.
Report: World could reach peak plastic production in 2027, risking billions of dollars for oil majors
Global oil majors are planning to invest $400bn in virgin plastic production within five years - but much of this investment is at risk as governments beef up plastics and climate targets, and as consumers continue to push for plastic-free products.
Clean Future: Unilever to remove fossil-fuel-based carbon from cleaning products by 2030
Unilever has unveiled plans to replace 100% of the carbon derived from fossil fuels in its cleaning and laundry products with captured, natural and recycled carbon within a decade.
Credit Suisse cuts fossil fuel lending as part of £250bn green finance promise
Swiss investment bank Credit Suisse has unveiled plans to provide more than £250bn in financing geared towards green bonds and the low-carbon economy over the next decade, as well as pledging to limit financing to the oil and gas sector.
UK broke renewable energy generation record in 2019, latest BEIS figures show
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published its latest annual energy statistics, revealing that a record 37.1% of the electricity generated in the UK in 2019 was renewable.
UK's largest pension scheme charts pathway to net-zero
The Government-backed National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) scheme is set to begin divesting from fossil fuel projects immediately, as part of a new roadmap designed to ensure its operations are aligned with the UK's net-zero target.
G20 nations funnel $151bn of Covid-19 recovery funding into fossil fuels
Of the Covid-19 recovery funding allocated to energy companies by G20 governments, 56% has been handed to fossil fuel projects, equivalent to $151bn (£119bn).
Report: Governments are bowing to fossil fuel lobbying in Covid-19 recovery planning
Almost two-thirds of the interventions which fossil fuel lobbyists made in policymaking between March and June were successful, new analysis has revealed.
WBA: Less than 10% of electric utilities are taking Paris-Agreement-aligned climate action
Analysis of the decarbonisation ambitions and actions of 50 of the world's largest electric utilities companies has revealed that less than one in ten have fully aligned their business models with the Paris Agreement, despite the fact that the sector must 'enable' the global low-carbon transition.
Shell predicts $22bn hit for oil and gas assets as BP sells petrochemicals arm
Shell has unveiled plans to underwrite the value of its oil and gas portfolio by up to $22bn (£17.7bn) due to the energy demand slump caused by Covid-19, in the same week that BP has struck a $5bn (£4bn) deal to sell off its petrochemicals business.
UK's offshore oil and gas industry vows to halve operational emissions by 2030
The industry body for offshore oil and gas in the UK has published plans for halving emissions from production and exploration within a decade, but green groups say there must also be stronger accountability for indirect emissions.
BP forecasts $17.5bn assets hit, accelerates strategy restructure to prioritise renewables
BP is preparing to reduce the value of its assets by between $13bn (£10.4bn) and $17.5bn (£14bn) over the next three months and says the impacts of the Covid-19 will spur its transition to low-carbon energy.
UK Government mulling ban on overseas fossil fuel financing, reports
Ministers are reportedly considering moves to ban the UK Government's direct lending facility from financing any new or existing fossil fuel projects overseas, following a series of high-profile exposés.
Britain goes 60 days without coal-fired power generation
As of midnight today (10 June), Britain has had no coal-fired power generation on its grid for a full two months - the longest period since the Industrial Revolution.
Heat Networks Industry Council set up to spur zero-carbon networks and job growth
Organisations overseeing the UK's heat networks and industry have created a new Council that will oversee plans to drive up to £50bn in investment into the sector to create 35,000 new jobs and deliver zero-carbon heat networks.
Fossil fuel profits set to collapse by two-thirds
The global market value of fossil fuels is set to collapse by almost two-thirds, creating heightened economic risk for companies, financial markets and countries failing to embrace new low-carbon technology.
University of Manchester targets net-zero investment portfolio
The University of Manchester has announced a new commitment to end investments into fossil fuel projects and organisations by 2022, in line to creating a net-zero investment portfolio by 2038 at the latest.
Boris Johnson confirms new COP26 date, urges nations to focus on green recoveries
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reiterated a desire for the UK to deliver a "sustainable" recovery from the coronavirus pandemic in a way that brings together key international nations to reach the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
IEA: Coronavirus to cause largest ever drop in global energy investment
The world is on course to witness the largest ever drop in investment in global energy, with the coronavirus pandemic set to restrict spending across renewables, gas, fossil fuels and cleantech.
Reports: COP26 to be delayed until November 2021
Reports have emerged that the UK Government has put forward the first two weeks of November 2021 as new proposed dates for the crucial COP26 climate conference, citing concerns over the state of international travel safety due to the coronavirus.
Copenhagen Airport spearheads green hydrogen project for transport fuel
Renewable energy company Ørsted and Copenhagen Airport are amongst the consortium of businesses aiming to develop a hydrogen and sustainable transport fuel facility in the heart of the Danish capital.
World health groups call for green coronavirus recovery
A coalition of global healthcare organisations, backed by more than 40 million healthcare professionals, have coordinated a written plea to governments to deliver health-based and climate-focused economic recoveries from the coronavirus pandemic.
World's largest hydrogen plant and UK's Gigafactory: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Report: Renewables to account for three-quarters of UK's power demand by 2050
The UK could source 76% of its power demand from renewables by 2050, according to a new report from RenewableUK which claims that the nation's net-zero target will spur rapid demand for green hydrogen while attracting more than £50bn to an already world-leading offshore wind sector.
Europe's draft 'green recovery' plan leaked
The European Commission's promised green recovery plan will focus on building renovation, renewables and hydrogen as well as clean mobility and the circular economy, according to a leaked working document obtained by EURACTIV.
Lockdown sees global emissions fall by 17%
New research has suggested that daily global carbon emissions recorded in April 2020 were 17% lower compared to the same month last year, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic and forced lockdowns and postponement in production.
Business giants call for science-based green economic recovery
More than 150 business giants, including Carlsberg, H&M and Pernod Ricard, with a combined market capitalisation of more than $2.4trn, have signed a joint statement calling on all governments to align coronavirus economic responses to climate science.
Chief value officers and ESG investors: What could green finance look like in the new normal?
Whatever the new normal looks like once nations have battled their way through the coronavirus, the recent rhetoric around green finance suggests that both internally externally, the value of sustainability to a business is set to grow.
Business leaders call for recovery packages to be tied to net-zero corporate targets
The chief executives from 40 global organisations including BP, Heathrow Airport, Shell and HSBC, have called on governments to focus economic recovery packages in ways that enable sectors and businesses to transition to low-carbon and resilient models of operation.
Oxford University to divest from fossil fuels and align to net-zero strategies
Oxford University has announced that is divesting its remaining investments away from fossil fuel companies and how its fund management service can engage with organisations that showcase net-zero business plans.
NGOs call on investors to respond to coronavirus pandemic through net-zero transition packages
A collection of NGOs have written to some of the world's largest insurers, calling on them to address economic responses to the coronavirus outbreak in ways that are aligned with the urgent need to combat the climate crisis and steer the global economy towards a net-zero future.
Messages of hope: How world leaders are rallying for a green Covid-19 recovery
The two-day Petersberg Climate Dialogue finished yesterday evening, with ministerial leaders from the UK, Germany, the EU and the UN all delivering rallying cries for nations to focus on climate mitigation as part of any efforts to stimulate the economic downturned caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Barclays and HSBC blasted over £158bn fossil fuel financing
Banking giants Barclays and HSBC have been accused of financing a combined £158bn into the fossil fuel sector since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, despite both organisations pledging to ramp up sustainable investment portfolios.
Airlines, automakers and fossil fuel firms blasted as 'coronavirus climate profiteers'
A new report has blasted the lobbying efforts of the airline, automaker, fossil fuel and logging industries, claiming that organisations are attempting to benefit from billion-pound bailouts in response to the coronavirus that enables them to carry on with climate-wrecking business practices.
Can you eliminate plastic in the workplace?
Back in 2017, WWF-UK pledged to eliminate all unnecessary single-use plastic throughout the organisation. Environmental Manager Lauren Wiseman explains how this year, that target was achieved.
Net-zero: Is the UK's gas grid ready to go green?
In a week where plans were unveiled for a nationwide roll-out of farming greenhouses heated by wastewater, the UK's major gas operators have teamed up to launch a programme aimed at delivering the world's first zero-carbon gas grid.
Carbon emissions from fossil fuels could fall by 2.5bn tonnes in 2020
Global carbon emissions from the fossil fuel industry could fall by a record 2.5bn tonnes this year, a reduction of 5%, as the coronavirus pandemic triggers the biggest drop in demand for fossil fuels on record.
Nations risking 'uneconomic' coronavirus responses by prioritising coal, report warns
China, the US, India and European nations are at risk of being burdened with uneconomic, long-term plans to stimulate their economies in response to the coronavirus outbreak by focusing on new coal capacity, a new study from Carbon Tracker warns.
New renewable energy capacity hit record levels in 2019
Almost three-quarters of new electricity generation capacity built in 2019 uses renewable energy, representing an all-time record. New data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) shows solar, wind and other green technologies now provide more than one-third of the world's power, marking another record.
US clears Exxon and Chevron to dismiss shareholder climate reporting requests
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved requests from both Exxon and Chevron to reject shareholder proposals that have called on the oil and gas giants to report on how the companies are addressing climate change by aligning to the Paris Agreement.
MP's pension fund still investing in fossil fuels
MPs have yet again called for the trustees of the Parliamentary Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuel companies Royal Dutch Shell and BP, having finally integrated investment into renewables into the fund.
Global banks 'failing miserably' on climate crisis by funneling trillions into fossil fuels, study finds
The world's largest investment banks have funnelled more than £2.2tn ($2.66tn) into fossil fuels since the Paris agreement, new figures show, prompting warnings they are failing to respond to the climate crisis.
UK Export Finance accused of climate 'hypocrisy' over funding
Updated: In the same week that the UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) direct lending facility has allocated more than £2bn for clean growth projects a global NGO has accused the government body of “rank hypocrisy” for breaching OECD guidelines by supporting overseas fossil fuel projects.
Bank of England under pressure over board member's oil links
Environmental groups have called into question the Bank of England's commitment to tackling the climate emergency while it retains one of Britain's most senior oil company executives on its governing board.
Alok Sharma: What we know about the COP26 President's views on climate change
In an unexpected announcement, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has been replaced by International Development Secretary Alok Sharma, who has also been named as COP26 President. Here, edie examines Sharma's track record on climate legislation to date.
Mary Robinson: Business and governments must avoid net-zero 'hypocrisy'
EXCLUSIVE: The former president of Ireland Mary Robinson has claimed that net-zero commitments made by governments and corporates must lead to a "just transition" that also combats the "hypocrisy" of ignoring fossil fuel developments further afield.
BMJ's divestment campaign and India's net-zero trains: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Change climate policy now to avert oil market crisis, warns thinktank
The oil industry is at risk of a global market shock that could halve the value of fossil fuel investments if governments delay setting policies to tackle the climate crisis, according to new analysis.
UK sued for approving Europe's biggest gas power station
The UK government is being sued for approving a large new gas-fired power plant, overruling the climate change objections of its own planning authority.
Comic Relief among charities pledging to end fossil fuel investments
Comic Relief, Power to Change, and Guy's and St Thomas' Charity are the latest organisations that have committed to end all fossil fuel investment and adopt a new ethical approach to investing, after joining the Funder Commitment on Climate Change.
Government urged to target one million heat pumps a year by 2035
The UK must invest in ground source heat pump infrastructure in the 2020s, just as previous generations ploughed money into the gas and water grid, in order to help kickstart the fledgling sector.
'Near zero' by 2050: Equinor outlines new long-term emissions targets
Norwegian oil and gas giant Equinor has pledged to bringing the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of its onshore plants and offshore fields to "near zero" by 2050.
Royal Dutch Shell may fail to reach green energy targets
Royal Dutch Shell is at risk of falling short on plans to invest up to $6bn (£4.6bn) in green energy projects between 2016 and the end of 2020, with its slow progress likely to raise concern that oil companies are not moving fast enough to help tackle the climate crisis.
'Cleanest year on record': Zero-carbon electricity surpassed fossil fuel generation in 2019
During the course of 2019, 48.5% of electricity consumed in Britain was generated through zero-carbon methods such as wind, solar and nuclear - compared to 43% for fossil fuels.
Repsol targets net-zero by 2050
Spanish oil and gas giant Repsol has committed to becoming a net-zero emission business by 2050, across its own operations and its indirect impacts.
Report: Coal 'becoming uninsurable' as cover withdrawal doubles
The number of insurance firms withdrawing cover for coal companies and assets has more than doubled between 2018 and 2019, a new report has revealed.
Net-zero by 2025 'practically impossible' due to spiralling costs, report finds
Moving the UK's net-zero emission target forward 25 years is "practically impossible", according to new thinktank research which found that setting a net-zero target for 2025 would cost £200bn each year at a minimum - more than the NHS's annual budget.
Climate-heating greenhouse gas concentrations hit new high, UN reports
The concentration of climate-heating greenhouse gases hit a record high in 2018, according to a report from the UN's World Meteorological Organization.
European coal power output sees 'unprecedented' decline
Electricity production from coal is on track to fall by around 3% globally in 2019 - the largest drop on record - with Western European countries leading the charge, according to fresh data published today (25 November).
Fossil fuel production on track for double the safe climate limit
The world's nations are on track to produce more than twice as much coal, oil and gas as can be burned in 2030 while restricting the rise in the global temperature to 1.5C, analysis shows.
Dozens of investors slam IEA over fossil fuels and renewables projections
Allianz, Zurich Insurance Group and Orsted's pension fund are among 65 finance bodies to have written to the International Energy Agency (IEA), urging to body to hep global energy firms align with the Paris Agreement.
European Investment Bank to end financial support for fossil fuels by 2021
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has unveiled a new energy lending policy that will stop all financing for fossil fuel projects at the end of 2021 and unlock €1trn in sustainable development over the next decade.
