Energy
The US’ hidden methane problem
Unregulated, unnoticed coal mines across the US are leaking a potent greenhouse gas with the same greenhouse effect as 13 million cars
Oil pipeline inspection industry ‘going wrong’ as surveys fail to prevent spills
Three separate companies inspected the San Pablo Bay pipeline for faults during a series of spills that dumped 900 barrels of crude onto farmland in California
Three ways the global business elite is underestimating clean energy
A Financial Times reader survey found most see climate change as important, but are conservative on how fast the global energy mix can shift
How the Paris Agreement can take on fossil fuel supply
The UN deal doesn’t mention coal, oil or gas, but it can still be used to limit their extraction
German renewables overtake coal power generation for six months
Wind, solar, hydro and biogas met 36.3% of electricity demand in the first half of 2018, industry data show, while coal dropped to 35.1% of the mix
Sustainable energy for all goal is woefully off track. Here’s how we fix it
Just 1% of funding for energy access goes to decentralised energy, but it’s the only hope for delivering the UN goal to bring energy to all by 2030
Battery-backed solar power to undercut coal in China by 2028: report
Falling battery costs will allow for renewable power to grow rapidly, analysts predict, replacing traditional baseload generation
UK government refuses to commit to EU clean energy targets after Brexit
The UK helped craft a deal on EU renewable and energy efficiency ambition but its participation after it leaves the union is uncertain
EU decides on non-binding 2030 energy efficiency target
Deal between lawmakers and ministers will cut energy waste 32.5% and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports, but didn’t go far enough for green groups
World Bank reconsidering support for its last coal plant
Kosovo C is the last exception to the bank’s policy against backing coal plants, but a new assessment looks set to favour renewable alternatives
India’s power minister says the country can smash its 2022 renewable power goal. Will it happen?
Power ministry officials say renewable capacity could exceed the 175GW goal, reaching 227GW, but analysts caution it depends on demand growth
EU closes in on clean energy package, with Spain, Italy joining push for higher targets
The EU is near agreement on measures to put its 2030 climate target into action, with a meeting of energy ministers on Monday swinging towards more ambition
Pope Francis tells oil chiefs to keep it in the ground
At a conference in the Vatican, the head of the Catholic Church urged heads of Exxon Mobil, Eni and BP to make a faster shift to clean energy
Job of ending coal in Germany handed to 31-member committee
Commission will set a phase-out timeline for coal, but greens warn it may be too weak and divided to salvage Germany’s reputation as a climate leader
G7 fossil fuel subsidies worth $100bn a year to industry, study finds
UK accused of masking subsidies to fossil fuels, ahead of meeting of G7 countries, which have agreed to end taxpayer support by 2025
Canada oil pipeline buyout ‘subsidising a market failure’
Nationalisation of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline breaches a G7 commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, say analysts, ahead of leaders summit
Investors have made oil majors consider safe climate limits. What next?
Even holdout Exxon Mobil has analysed what holding global warming to 2C means for its business. Now the sector needs to invest – or divest – accordingly
Other countries ‘highly unlikely’ to replicate US shale gas boom, says UN report
Fracking transformed US energy production, but Europe and the rest of the world will struggle to repeat the trick, finds global report
US launches nuclear initiative to cut carbon with Canada, Japan, UK
While the Trump administration generally avoids discussion of climate change, it is participating in a coalition to promote “clean, reliable” nuclear power
EU energy chief flies to Tehran to talk gas supply, as US sanctions loom
As companies withdraw from deals involving Iran, fearing US sanctions, the EU scrambles to preserve growing energy cooperation