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
How Whatcom County opposed fossil fuel expansion and showed how to winFor more than two years now, the small community of Whatcom County, in Northwest Washington State in the U.S. has been working with local leaders to take...
Story of change
How learning to share again cuts waste, and makes more resilient communitiesSharing is one of the very first things we are taught to do as children, it’s almost the defining difference between being ‘good’ or seen as selfish....
Report
How did we do that? The possibility of rapid transitionA booklet which collects stories of rapid transitions to show what we can learn from history and the present day about how people adapt to rapid change.
Story of change
Heating households not the planet: from China to Denmark rapid transition in heating brings warmer homes with less climate costWinter is coming in the northern hemisphere and keeping homes warm is on everyone’s minds. Much housing stock is old, inefficient and leaks heat, and the...
Commentary
Given Half a Chance: Ten Ways to Save the WorldEnvironmentalist Edward Davey’s new book, Given Half a Chance: Ten Ways to Save the World shows how little it would take to set a rapid transition in...
Story of change
From oil crisis to energy revolution – how nations once before planned to kick the oil habitJust as the modern oil and debt fuelled consumer age was building momentum in wealthy industrialised countries, the energy taps were turned off by the 1973...
Story of change
Free public transport: the new global initiative clearing the air, roads and helping keep climate targets on trackAll around the world, cities, towns and even whole countries are waking up to the many benefits that come from making public transport completely free. In...
Commentary
Fossil fuel disarmamentThree years ago, on 7 July 2017, something quite remarkable happened. After decades of trying to get the nuclear powers to fulfil their commitments under...
Story of change
Faith in rapid transition: how calls for rapid climate action are rising from the major world religionsAll around the world, the fossil fuel industry is finding itself the target of faith based groups, most recently in their support for the growing call for a...