Renewables are the only major power source to grow in 2020
In its annual World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that renewables are expected to overtake coal as the primary means of producing electricity by 2025.
Europe
“World’s fastest electrodes” triple the density of lithium batteries
Such an energy and power density boost could be revolutionary for electric cars, motorcycles, bikes, and other emerging ground transport modes, as well as a huge potential leap forward for the electric aviation space.
Swedish grocery store prices items based on their carbon footprint
Felix, a Swedish food brand, has opened a climate-conscious store that will guide buyers to make informed decisions when purchasing food items. In the newly opened store, items are priced based on their carbon footprint.
Prince William launches £50 million prize to find innovative solutions to the world’s greatest problems
The Earthshot Prize is centered around five “Earthshots,” simple but ambitious goals for our planet: 1) Protect and restore nature, 2) Clean our air, 3) Revive our oceans, 4) Build a waste-free world, and 5) Fix our climate.
Solar power is now ‘cheapest electricity in history’
The world’s best solar power schemes now offer the “cheapest…electricity in history” with the technology cheaper than coal and gas in most major countries, according to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2020.
Vegan meat company Meatless Farm closes $31 million funding round
Strong demand for plant-based foods has led Meatless Farm, founded in 2016, to become the U.K.’s leading vegan meat producer. The company announced recently the closing of a $31 million funding round to support its global growth strategy.
U.K. pledges to get 100% of residential power power from wind turbines by 2030
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the U.K. would invest about £160 million ($207 million) that will go toward factories that would develop new turbines as well as floating offshore turbines themselves.
University of Cambridge drops its $4.5 billion endowments from fossil fuels
The university will divest from conventional energy by the end of the year, build “significant investments” in renewable energy by 2025, divest from remaining fossil fuels by 2035, and become net-zero across its portfolio by 2038.
Number of young black authors doubles to nearly 20% in U.K.
A new study out of University College London found that only 7.1 percent of YA authors in the UK were people of color in 2017. That figure jumped to 13.25 percent in 2018 and has risen even further to a more promising 19.6 percent as of 2019.
Scientists create a ‘super enzyme’ that breaks down plastic six times faster
The super enzyme could have major benefits for recycling PET, which is the most common thermoplastic used in single-use drinks bottles and clothing. PET takes hundreds of years to degrade in the environment.