Everything we do needs energy. The type of energy we use shapes the world around us, from how clean is the air we breathe, to how shock-proof our economies are.A rapid transition in energy use is at the centre of solving climate breakdown. The world still uses coal, oil and gas for over 80 percent of its energy needs. But the rise of renewable energy around the world is beating all expectations. Meeting climate targets means more than just having lots of solar panels and wind turbines, though – it means leaving fossil fuels in the ground, and radically reducing the amount of energy used in high-consuming countries and groups of people.
Story of change
Reclaiming power: The rapid rise of community renewable energy and why the added benefits of local, clean power can help accelerate transitionRenewable energy is on the rise. It made up more than a quarter of global electricity generation (27%) in 2019 and is outpacing all other energy sources’ growing capacity. Nevertheless, it is...
A rapid transition to clean and lower energy use can bring jobs, a wide range of health benefits, cleaner air and a more stable climate. Evidence shows that where communities own and develop renewable energy schemes the benefits spread more broadly and any problems are more easily overcome. It’s around energy that some of the most rapid and promising changes are happening right now.
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Story of change
Making streets people friendly: the rise of car free communitiesThe rise of ‘low-car to no-car’ residential initiatives is gathering pace in many cities around the world. In the UK they offer a glimpse of how to...
Commentary
Meet The Members – Paul Allen, Centre for Alternative TechnologyThe Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is an educational charity dedicated to researching and communicating positive solutions for environmental...
Story of change
No’ way back for petrol and diesel cars – how Norway flicked an electric transport switchIn 2021, the oil-rich Scandinavian nation of Norway hit a critical point in its rapid transition: 60% of all new cars sold so far have been fully battery...
Commentary
Norway and the climate debate in the electionCould a country that has built its whole identity and welfare on oil, start winding up its searching and drilling for oil? The answer might be bubbling in...
Story of change
Off-grid solar power lighting up rural KenyaThis rapid transition has seen the booming of a private market since the early 1980s – with hundreds of thousands of Solar Home Systems (SHS) installed...
Story of change
On track to full electrification: Low carbon railways in IndiaRailways are a central part of the rapid transition towards low-carbon transport. In order to meet international climate targets, there needs to be a drop...
Story of change
Pandemic lessons for the climate emergencyPandemics change business-as-usual overnight. Governments mobilise huge resources to tackle the problem and compensate for its impacts. At the same time,...
Commentary
Real climate leadership means ending finance for fossil fuelsIf the UK is going to be a good host for COP26 and pave the way for rapid transition, its climate policies need to be more coherent – and it could start...
Story of change
Reclaiming power: The rapid rise of community renewable energy and why the added benefits of local, clean power can help accelerate transitionRenewable energy is on the rise. It made up more than a quarter of global electricity generation (27%) in 2019 and is outpacing all other energy sources’...