Climate Change
💡 Musings of the Angry Optimist: Without China, emissions would already have peaked
Are we close to the first major milestone for the climate?
📉 China's CO2 emissions continue to decline – the peak may already have been passed
China's carbon dioxide emissions fell by one percent during the first half of 2025 and continue the downward trend that began in March 2024. The declining trend opens the possibility that China's emissions may already have reached their peak, years before the "before 2030" target.
💊 Scientists use bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol
Researchers have discovered that bacteria can convert plastic waste into paracetamol using genetically modified E. coli. The process works with material from plastic bottles and can produce paracetamol with up to 92 percent yield in under 24 hours.
🏭 Ireland shuts down its last coal power plant – becomes the 15th coal-free country in Europe
Ireland became the 15th coal-free country in Europe when the Moneypoint power plant was shut down on June 20. The country now generates 37 percent of its electricity from wind power according to energy think tank Ember.
🏭 South America the first continent without planned new coal power plants
South America has become the first continent in the world without planned new coal power plants, after having 18 projects on the drawing board in 2015. Renewable energy sources have become economically superior to coal across the continent.
📉 Have China's CO2 emissions peaked? Declining for the first time thanks to clean energy
China's carbon dioxide emissions fell by 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2025 despite sharply increased energy demand. China's electricity sector emissions have decreased four times previously. However, the current reduction is the first time the main cause is growth in clean energy production.
📉 EU looks set to reach climate targets for 2030
The Union is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The target that the EU has set is a 55 percent reduction.
🌎 Op-ed: Terraforming – a key to slowing climate change
The climate debate has long been stuck between blame and denial—but now it's time for action. What if the solution lies in actively reshaping Earth’s climate and ecosystems through terraforming?
📉 UK greenhouse gas emissions drop to lowest level since 1872
Coal usage in the country fell to the lowest level since 1666. The number of electric vehicles increased by almost 40% during 2024, contributing to reduced oil demand despite increased traffic on the roads.