Lloyds Banking Group halts financing for new coal plants
Banking giant will no longer finance coal-fired power stations or thermal coal mines in support of Paris Agreement goals
Sustainability
This archive tracks real progress on sustainability — from clean energy adoption and circular economy breakthroughs to policy wins and community-led conservation efforts. Each story focuses on what’s working, where, and why it matters for the long-term health of people and the planet.
New ‘flow battery’ could power green homes when the sun goes down and the wind stops blowing
Researchers report the discovery of a potentially cheap, organic molecule that can power a flow battery for years instead of days.
The island of Samoa to go 100% renewable by 2025
The local utility has worked with Tesla to install a key piece of that plan, battery storage, and also a software system that can control Samoa’s entire electricity supply.
Single-use plastic bag sales in England fall 86% since 2015
Campaigners are now calling for charges on plastic bottles and disposable coffee cups in the hope of producing a similar effect.
San Francisco bans plastic straws
San Francisco supervisors voted unanimously to ban restaurants, bars and retailers from selling or using on Tuesday, becoming the largest city to block establishments from giving out plastic straws
Bids open for first utility-scale wind farm in Saudi Arabia
$500m Dumat Al Jandal wind project forms part of Saudi goal to have 10% renewable energy by 2023.
U.K. offshore wind power set to double as government confirms future auctions
The U.K. offshore wind energy industry is set to double after the country’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy announced long-term political support.
California slashes emissions, hits major greenhouse gas goal years early
In a major win for California’s fight against global warming, the state appears to have hit its first target for cutting greenhouse gases, and it reached the goal early.
Starbucks says it will stop offering plastic straws by 2020
Starbucks says it will eliminate plastic straws from its stores globally by 2020. The company becomes the largest food and beverage company to do so as calls to cut waste globally grow louder.
Scotland’s groundbreaking offshore wind test site generates first power
The groundbreaking project has delivered its first power to the U.K. National Grid this week, marking yet another landmark moment for the offshore wind industry.