Costa Rica to ban fossil fuels and become world’s first decarbonised society
New president embraces ‘titanic and beautiful task’ of complete renewable energy transition.
Sustainability
London Mayor Sadiq Khan plans for city to go ‘zero carbon’ by 2050
The strategy, first released for consultation last summer, envisions London becoming a ‘zero carbon’ city by mid-century, boasting cleaner air and more green space.
California becomes first state to order solar on new homes
Most new units built after Jan. 1, 2020, will be required to include solar systems as part of the standards adopted by the California Energy Commission.
Global clean energy sector now employs more than 10 million for the first time ever
More than half a million jobs around the world were created in the renewable energy sector in 2017, bringing the total number of people employed in the sector to more than 10 million for the first time
Blockchain companies take aim at clean energy transaction costs
Advocates argue that blockchain platforms can reduce certification costs and eliminate the need for audits altogether. In turn, the platforms could provide a leg-up to small-scale distributed generators.
California hits new utility-scale solar generation record of 10.5 GW
For the first time in the state’s history utility-scale solar generation surpassed 10.5 gigawatts. Then two days later, that record was broken when 10,539 megawatts were generated.
E.U. plans to spend a quarter of its budget on climate protection
A quarter of the €1.279 trillion budget for 2021 to 2027 will be dedicated to spending designed to combat climate change. That includes funding for renewable energy, efficiency improvements, and adaptation to the effects of climate change.
Wimbledon bans plastic straws at this year’s championships
Wimbledon has joined the plastic war after it announced it will scrap straws at this year’s championships. Last year more than 400,000 plastic straws were used during the tournament.
$32 million in Green Climate Fund support to aid climate resilience in Rwanda
The initiative will directly support about 150,000 residents, with wider benefits to more than 380,000 people all who have little resources to mitigate and adapt to climate change, officials say.
All 197 Paris Agreement signatories now taking climate action
A policy brief published on Monday by U.K.-based climate research institute the Grantham Institute finds there are now over 1,500 laws and policies in place worldwide, up from only 72 in 1997, with 106 introduced since the Paris Agreement was finalised at the end of 2015.