Record Offshore Wind Spending Through Pandemic – The Energy Mix:

“We expected to see COVID-19 affecting renewable energy investment in the first half, via delays in the financing process and to some auction programs,” said BNEF Head of Analysis Albert Cheung. “There are signs of that in both solar and onshore wind, but the overall global figure has proved amazingly resilient—thanks to offshore wind.”

Record Offshore Wind Spending Through Pandemic – The Energy Mix: “We expected to see COVID-19 affecting renewable energy investment in the first half, via delays in the financing process and to some auction programs,” said BNEF Head of Analysis Albert Cheung. “There are signs of that in both solar and onshore wind, but the overall global figure has proved amazingly resilient—thanks to offshore wind.”Read More

Wilkinson Sets End-of-July Deadline to Decide on Vista Coal Mine Review – The Energy Mix: Wilkinson had previously decided in December to allow U.S.-owned Coalspur Mines Ltd. to double or triple the output and export capacity of the mine, without subjecting it to review under the federal Impact Assessment Act, after concluding that provincial review would address potential risks to environmental and Indigenous rights, The Canadian Press reports. But this week, spokesperson Moira Kelly “said the government is studying the issue anew, and Wilkinson will make a fresh decision by the end of July.”

That word comes after Ecojustice published an open letter and launched a high-profile campaign calling on Wilkinson to revisit his original decision.

Wilkinson Sets End-of-July Deadline to Decide on Vista Coal Mine Review – The Energy Mix: Wilkinson had previously decided in December to allow U.S.-owned Coalspur Mines Ltd. to double or triple the output and export capacity of the mine, without subjecting it to review under the federal Impact Assessment Act, after concluding that provincial review would address potential risks to environmental and Indigenous rights, The Canadian Press reports. But this week, spokesperson Moira Kelly “said the government is studying the issue anew, and Wilkinson will make a fresh decision by the end of July.”That word comes after Ecojustice published an open letter and launched a high-profile campaign calling on Wilkinson to revisit his original decision.Read More

Failing Test for Green Recovery, Tracker Shows G20 Nations Pumping $151 Billion Into Fossil Fuel Industry Amid Pandemic: While campaigners around the world continue to demand a just, green recovery from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, new data from a global Energy Policy Tracker shows that the richest countries on Earth have committed billions of dollars in public money to support fossil fuels since the start of the public health crisis.

The new tracker reveals that G20 countries, who account for 80% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, have committed at least $150.81 billion to support fossil fuel energy while only $88.63 to support clean energy. The tracker was launched ahead of G20 meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors and deputies this weekend.

“At this point in history it’s clear that investing in fossil fuels is as lethal to global economies as it is to life on Earth,” said Catherine Abreu, executive director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Canada. “Yet G20 leaders keep lying to themselves and their citizens as they prop up coal, oil, and gas with public money in the name of private financial return.”

“Canada’s claims to international leadership are hollow as long as its national and subnational governments funnel money to polluting projects like Vista and the Trans Mountain and Coastal Gaslink pipelines,” Abreu added. “Covid-19 has revealed two truths that Canada and G20 leaders must heed: one, if we don’t kill pollution, it will kill us; and two, a healthier world is possible—we need to only choose to build it.”

Failing Test for Green Recovery, Tracker Shows G20 Nations Pumping $151 Billion Into Fossil Fuel Industry Amid Pandemic: While campaigners around the world continue to demand a just, green recovery from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, new data from a global Energy Policy Tracker shows that the richest countries on Earth have committed billions of dollars in public money to support fossil fuels since the start of the public health crisis.The new tracker reveals that G20 countries, who account for 80% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, have committed at least $150.81 billion to support fossil fuel energy while only $88.63 to support clean energy. The tracker was launched ahead of G20 meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors and deputies this weekend.“At this point in history it’s clear that investing in fossil fuels is as lethal to global economies as it is to life on Earth,” said Catherine Abreu, executive director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Canada. “Yet G20 leaders keep lying to themselves and their citizens as they prop up coal, oil, and gas with public money in the name of private financial return.”“Canada’s claims to international leadership are hollow as long as its national and subnational governments funnel money to polluting projects like Vista and the Trans Mountain and Coastal Gaslink pipelines,” Abreu added. “Covid-19 has revealed two truths that Canada and G20 leaders must heed: one, if we don’t kill pollution, it will kill us; and two, a healthier world is possible—we need to only choose to build it.”Read More

The world’s pollution will finally be tracked in real time: Now, a new alliance of climate research groups called the Climate TRACE (Tracking Real-Time Atmospheric Carbon Emissions) Coalition has launched an effort to make the vision a reality, and they’re aiming to have it ready for COP26, the climate meetings in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021 (postponed from November 2020). If they pull it off, it could completely change the tenor and direction of international climate talks.

It could also make it easier for the hundreds of companies, cities, counties, and states that have made ambitious climate commitments to reliably track their process. “Trying to build up such an infrastructure the old, bottom-up way won’t get us where we need to be in time,” says Fransen, “so I’m thrilled that a big, smart, and well-resourced coalition is taking this on with an ambitious vision and a novel approach.”

The world’s pollution will finally be tracked in real time: Now, a new alliance of climate research groups called the Climate TRACE (Tracking Real-Time Atmospheric Carbon Emissions) Coalition has launched an effort to make the vision a reality, and they’re aiming to have it ready for COP26, the climate meetings in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021 (postponed from November 2020). If they pull it off, it could completely change the tenor and direction of international climate talks.It could also make it easier for the hundreds of companies, cities, counties, and states that have made ambitious climate commitments to reliably track their process. “Trying to build up such an infrastructure the old, bottom-up way won’t get us where we need to be in time,” says Fransen, “so I’m thrilled that a big, smart, and well-resourced coalition is taking this on with an ambitious vision and a novel approach.”Read More

Siberia heat ‘almost impossible’ without climate change: Earth’s poles are warming faster than the rest of the planet, and temperatures in Siberia – home to much of the world’s carbon-rich permafrost – were more than 5C hotter than average between January and June.

One town, Verkhoyansk, recorded a temperature of 38C (100.4 Fahrenheit) – smashing previous records.

Andrew Ciavarella, senior detection and attribution scientist at Britain’s Met Office, described the findings released Wednesday as “staggering”.

“This is further evidence of the extreme temperatures we can expect to see more frequently around the world in a warming climate,” he said.

Siberia heat ‘almost impossible’ without climate change: Earth’s poles are warming faster than the rest of the planet, and temperatures in Siberia – home to much of the world’s carbon-rich permafrost – were more than 5C hotter than average between January and June.One town, Verkhoyansk, recorded a temperature of 38C (100.4 Fahrenheit) – smashing previous records.Andrew Ciavarella, senior detection and attribution scientist at Britain’s Met Office, described the findings released Wednesday as “staggering”.“This is further evidence of the extreme temperatures we can expect to see more frequently around the world in a warming climate,” he said.Read More