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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Reset series
Repair and maintenance – how we learned to use our hands againThe human urge to mend, repair and improve is nothing new – it has just been forgotten and gone untrained, buried under an avalanche of mass produced...
Story of change
Reducing roads can cause traffic to ‘Evaporate’In April 2019 a heavily-used bridge across the River Thames in London was closed indefinitely due to structural problems. Local media were full of alarm,...
Story of change
Reclaiming the streets: the increasing trend of pedestrianisation around the worldAs urban dwellers and city administrations become increasingly conscious of the corrosive effects cars and air pollution have on our lives and lungs, cities...
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’...
Commentary
Real climate leadership means ending finance for fossil fuelsIf the UK is going to be a good host for COP26 and pave the way for rapid transition, its climate policies need to be more coherent – and it could start...
Commentary
Rapid transition to beat the heat – HousingUK homes are not built to handle the heat. Most of them were designed and constructed for a much cooler climate where extreme heat events were rarer and...
Reset series
Plant-based food enjoys a pandemic boostWhen the global pandemic hit, many of our habits around food changed as some people working at home had more time to grow and cook food and eat meals...
Story of change
Pandemic lessons for the climate emergencyPandemics change business-as-usual overnight. Governments mobilise huge resources to tackle the problem and compensate for its impacts. At the same time,...
Story of change
On track to full electrification: Low carbon railways in IndiaRailways are a central part of the rapid transition towards low-carbon transport. In order to meet international climate targets, there needs to be a drop...