Climate crisis

Solar farm

Solar was E.U.’s biggest source of power for the first time ever in June 2025

By / / 🌏 Good News For Humankind

At least 13 E.U. countries saw solar output hit a new monthly high in June, according to an analysis from energy think tank Ember. Solar amounted to more than 40% of generation in the Netherlands and 35% in Greece. Coal generated just 6 percent of electricity, a new monthly low. Fifteen E.U. countries are now coal-free, including Austria, Belgium, and Ireland. Analysts say that the June surge in solar power helped Europe weather a brutal heat wave, which saw temperatures soar upwards of 110 degrees F Analysts say that the June surge in solar power helped Europe weather a brutal heat wave.

Solar farm

China achieves historic 1 TW solar capacity milestone

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China has continued its reign as the undisputed global leader in renewable energy, with its solar capacity now surpassing a whopping 1 terawatt (TW). According to the Energy Information Administration, the total global electricity capacity in 2022 was less than 9 TW. From January to May, new solar installations totaled 197 GW, up 388% from the same period last year. In May alone, China added 92 GW of new capacity, a 105% increase from April and the highest monthly figure on record. China reached its first 1 GW of installed solar just 15 years ago in 2010.

Irish flags

Ireland shuts down its last coal-fired power plant

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Ireland has become the 15th coal-free country in Europe, having ended coal power generation at its 915 MW Moneypoint coal plant in County Clare. Initially commissioned in the mid-1980s by ESB, Moneypoint was intended to help Ireland offset the impact of the oil crises in the 1970s by providing a dependable source of energy. But with Ireland now generating a lot more renewable energy, coal burning is no longer such an urgent need.

Illustration of the concept of nuclear fusion

U.K. to offer fusion energy industry $3.3 billion funding boost over next five years

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More than £2.5bn of investment into fusion energy over the next five years has been announced as part of the British government’s Spending Review. It said the money would “cement” Oxfordshire’s role as a “world-leading hub” for the technology, while funds would also be invested into plans to build a fusion power plant in Nottinghamshire. Nuclear fusion is the same energy process that powers the stars, which scientists say has the potential of virtually unlimited supplies of low-carbon, low-radiation energy and is often called the “holy grail” of clean energy.

Indian Railways train

Indian Railways to achieve net zero targets in 2025 – 5 years ahead of schedule

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Indian Railways operates roughly 12,000 trains daily, carrying over one billion tons of goods and more than 8.5 billion passengers annually. Now, over 90% of the nationwide railways’ traction energy comes from electric rather than fossil sources, with plans to increase this to 95% by 2030. This shift has led to a substantial decrease in operational costs and direct greenhouse gas emissions, with a reduction of 2.2 million tons of CO2 expected by the end of 2025.

Aerial view of Hawaii coastline

Hawaii becomes first U.S. state to charge tourist ‘Green Fee’ to fund climate resilience

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Act 96 will raise the state’s current transient accommodations tax by 0.75% for a total of 11% placed upon the nightly lodging rate, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The fee will apply to travelers staying in hotels, short-term vacation rentals, and for the first time ever, cruise ships. Tourist taxes are quickly emerging worldwide as more destinations face the impacts of over-tourism and climate change. Last year, Greece, Bali, and the Galápagos Islands all implemented or raised their fees on travelers to contribute to sustainability programs.

Coal plant on the water

No new coal plants planned for South America for the first time since the 1800s

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When the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, South America had eighteen coal-fired plants on the drawing board, reflecting global uncertainty about the role coal would play in powering emerging economies. Today, that uncertainty has vanished. Coal, once perceived as a staple of industrialization and economic stability, has essentially vanished from the continent’s energy future.

Dead birds covered in oil

Guyana lawmakers pass bill making companies liable for oil spill damages

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The legislation stipulates that responsible parties provide financial assurance to cover spills, conduct regular inspections and audits, and address any issues found.
The legislation stipulates that responsible parties provide financial assurance to cover spills, conduct regular inspections and audits, and address any issues found. It also includes penalties for companies that fail to comply with regulations, including the suspension of licenses to explore and produce oil for those that do not provide the financial assurance required. The bill, which passed with a majority of votes cast in a simple voice vote, is expected to be signed into law by President Irfaan Ali soon.

Factory polluting with wind turbine in foreground

China’s CO2 emissions begin declining for first time

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The world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide has seen a slight decline in those emissions over the past 12 months, even as demand for power has increased. This is an encouraging sign that the country’s massive investment in clean energy has begun to displace fossil fuels. A new report, published in Carbon Brief, finds that the country’s CO2 emissions have declined by 1% over the past 12 months. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, emissions declined by 1.6% relative to last year.

Warsaw, Poland

Coal produces less than half of Poland’s power for first time since 1800s

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According to a report by Forum Energii, an energy think tank, electricity produced from coal in April 2025 amounted to 6.5 terawatt-hours (TWh), accounting for 49.4% of the total energy mix. This represents an 18.9% decrease from March and a 9.6% drop compared to the same month in 2024. Forum Energii described recent changes in the electricity mix as “unprecedented”, noting that the use of coal had fallen by 29.9 percentage points between April 2015 and April 2025.