Yes we need land for solar panels, wind farms, batteries, pumped hydro, transmission lines and so on. But the amount of land is surprisingly small, when you do the sums. Here’s why.
Cairo is one of Africa’s urban heat islands.
Alex Anton/Shutterstock
African cities with over 10 million residents are getting hotter fast. Millions face disaster in these urban heat islands unless the cities start greening and adapting to climate change soon.
The Punch Powertrain Solar Team car from Belgium competes in the 2017 World Solar Challenge near Kulgera, Australia.
AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert
It’s common to see solar panels on rooftops and fields, but they aren’t widespread on cars − yet.
South Africa’s coal fired power stations are breaching minimum emissions standards but shutting them down may jeopardise energy supply.
Willem Cronje/Getty Images
South Africa’s national electricity plan is being finalised. A scientist argues that an energy mix of nuclear, clean coal, renewable energy and gas is urgently needed to end 15 years of power cuts.
As South Africa heads towards elections, there is no quick fix solution to the electricity crisis in the country. What exactly are the political parties promising voters?
Renewable electricity in Africa needs to be shared across borders, this research found.
Zero Creatives/Getty Images
If Africa built only all the renewable power plants it has already planned, this would be enough to generate 76% of all electricity needed on the continent by 2040.
Solar panels shade grassland at Jack’s Solar Garden, an agrovoltaic farm in Longmont, Colo.
Matthew Sturchio
Our super funds say they want to invest more in the net zero transition but that regulation blocks them. It’s time to put them to the test, and turn their piles of money toward a greener future.
If big money is going to invest in clean energy and technology, the rules have to be clear. Australia’s launch of a green finance strategy last week was a good start but there is further to go.
When Australia’s government and opposition argue over how to get to net zero emissions, nuclear power is the flashpoint. The argument against nuclear is stronger, but not for the obvious reason.
Canada has the third-largest oil reserves in the world and is the world’s fourth-largest oil producer.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
If Alberta prepares to transition from oil and gas to solar energy, the workforce will need retraining. New research shows that this will cost less than expected.
Rod Sims, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Australia has a massive opportunity to reduce global emissions by as much as 9%, all while renewing its heavy industries and economy. But to seize the opportunity, government needs to move fast.