Energy
Veteran campaigner slams Shell’s “Jekyll and Hyde” climate stance
NEWS: Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, uses Shell-sponsored conference to accuse oil giant of hypocrisy on climate change
Fracking may release cancer-causing air pollution – study
NEWS: Samples collected by residents near shale gas wells picked up high levels of benzene, hydrogen sulphide and formaldehyde
Oil tanker trains threaten to trash US northwest
NEWS: America’s expanding oil production threatens the pristine region of the country with a rash of new oil terminals along coast
Hydropower to double – but at what cost to wildlife?
NEWS: Scientists predict hydropower will double over the next 20 years, but building new dams could damage major rivers
EU set to overachieve 2020 carbon emissions goal
NEWS: Greenhouse gas emissions fell 2% in 2013 says Environment Agency, but warns some countries are slipping
China, India set pace in global clean energy growth
NEWS: Emerging markets set to overtake rich countries in race to install wind, solar and other renewable energy sources
Ikea launches solar panels in the Netherlands
NEWS: Swedish furniture giant brings residential solar technology to Dutch, with expansion planned to seven more countries
China’s coal consumption drops for first time this century
NEWS: Momentary peak reflects long term trend as China attempts to shift from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy
Natural gas boom will not slow climate change – study
NEWS: Research from five countries shows a gas glut will make no difference to global warming
The energy bridge: How EU countries justify fossil fuels
ANALYSIS: In Germany and Italy, for different reasons, governments are pushing dirty sources of energy as “transition fuels”
Divestment campaign signs up first Swedish city
NEWS: Örebro has committed to drop its investments in coal, oil and gas companies, in line with a goal to go fossil-free by 2050
Energy companies unprepared for climate risks – study
NEWS: Only 7% of coal, oil and gas companies have checked their projects are consistent with limiting dangerous global warming, says Carbon Tracker Initiative
Africans need to regain control of energy resources, says IEA
NEWS: US$3 trillion investment needed by 2040 to provide electricity to fast-growing population, but challenges persist
Europe spends €10bn a year on coal subsidies
NEWS: Coal is expensive when subsidies and climate change costs are factored in, shows European Commission analysis
World of clean energy is possible by 2050 say scientists
NEWS: World could double electricity supply by 2050 while actually reducing air and water pollution, according to new research
NASA data shows methane emissions hotspot in US
NEWS: Coalbed methane extraction is releasing triple the greenhouse gas emissions previously thought, find researchers
UK urges Europe’s leaders to back ambitious climate targets
NEWS: Climate secretary Ed Davey stresses 40% cuts are at lower end of ambition as 2015 UN deal in Paris looms
Chinese solar drives clean energy investment bounce
NEWS: After three strong quarters for investment in clean energy sources, 2014 is on track to recover from a two-year dip
World’s first major power plant with carbon capture opens in Canada
NEWS: IEA hails major breakthrough as one unit of SaskPower’s Boundary Dam plant starts sucking up CO2
EPA data shows US greenhouse gas emissions rising
NEWS: Emissions from 8,000 power plants and major industrial sites in 2013 were up 0.6% on the previous year, says Environmental Protection Agency