Latest news with #climategoals
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Scout Moor: Plans to expand windfarm with 17 more turbines
Plans to add a further 17 wind turbines at the site of England's largest onshore wind farm have been submitted. Cubico Sustainable Investments is seeking to put the turbines on the Scout Moor II development between Rochdale in Greater Manchester and Rossendale, in Lancashire, which is already home to 26 turbines.A previous bid by Peel Wind Power to expand the number of turbines was supported by Rossendale and Rochdale councils but was refused by the then Secretary of State following a public said the expansion would mean enough electricity could be generated to power around 77% of households in Rossendale and Rochdale, while campaigners said they would "dominate" the valley. The 26 turbines already in place were erected in 2008 as part of the original Scout Moor Wind scheme is the first of its kind since planning rules were changed under Labour to support new projects, the Local Democracy Reporting Service previous Conservative government brought in new planning rules that effectively ruled out new onshore wind farm developments back in 2015, which has since been eased. Cubico said the plans marked a significant step in helping the country meet its climate goals, reducing reliance on imported energy, and unlocking the full potential of homegrown from the Say NO to Scout Moor 2 group have said the new turbines would be higher than Blackpool Tower, dominating the valley and providing little benefit to the said they also feared the high level of concrete used to keep the turbines standing would cause irreversible damage to the peatlands in the response to the group's concerns, Cubico said it proposed the delivery of a major moorland restoration scheme. It said this would focus on improving and protecting the unique peatland across the site, rewetting the moor, restoring native vegetation, and improving habitats for local Rowe, development manager at Cubico said the firm had listened to what people had said during a consultation and their input had "shaped a stronger scheme that we believe delivers for local communities and supports national energy goals".Rochdale and Rossendale councils will now consider the plans for approval. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
News24
21 hours ago
- Business
- News24
Energy transitions must be just, sovereign and inclusive
Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images News Ramokgopa pushes inclusive, sovereign energy transition at G20 meeting. Calls for finance reform, pragmatic tech mix, universal energy access. Notes Eskom's improving performance amid domestic energy stability efforts. Electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has called for a pragmatic, inclusive and sovereign approach to the global energy transition, telling G20 counterparts that Africa's development and energy needs cannot be sidelined in the pursuit of climate goals. Addressing delegates at the third G20 Energy Transitions Working Group meeting on Wednesday, held at Sun City in the North West, Ramokgopa said the global move to a low-carbon economy must be guided by justice, inclusion, and the right of countries to determine their own energy pathways. The transition is not only about technology. It must be about solidarity. About sovereignty. About ensuring access and opportunity. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa Ramokgopa emphasised that while renewable technologies such as solar, wind, and battery storage are crucial, they alone will not address the complex energy challenges many countries face. He urged for a 'technology-inclusive' approach that includes carbon capture, long-duration storage, and small modular nuclear reactors. 'African countries, and others with legacy baseload infrastructure and constrained grids, require flexibility. Renewables must be part of a broader strategy, not the only strategy,' he said. FINANCIAL BARRIERS Ramokgopa made a strong appeal for reforming global energy finance structures, describing current models as exclusionary and insufficient for the scale of investment needed. He noted that while political commitments to climate finance have been made, delivery remains patchy. 'We must move from pledges to execution. Finance must be a tool of inclusion, not a barrier to participation,' he said, calling for concessional and blended finance to support early-stage and localised projects, and for mechanisms to de-risk investments in high-impact but underserved areas. He argued that energy investment must also support small and medium enterprises, particularly in emerging markets, as part of building resilience and enabling economic participation. The minister's remarks follow a recent announcement by the African Development Bank (AfDB), which on 1 July approved a $474.6 million loan to South Africa for its Infrastructure Governance and Green Growth Programme. The programme is the second phase of the AfDB's support for South Africa's Just Energy Transition and aims to enhance energy security, support green industrialisation and reform the transport sector. The minister warned that structural energy poverty continues to block development across the Global South. 'Over 760 million people globally still live without electricity. More than 2.6 billion rely on unsafe fuels for cooking. These are not statistics – they are mothers, children, workers,' he said, urging the G20 to act decisively to implement Sustainable Development Goal 7. Ramokgopa welcomed past G20 efforts on clean cooking and called for further commitments, particularly in support of scalable solutions for Africa. AFRICA'S ENERGY STORY IS NOT ONE OF DEFICIT Referencing Africa's abundant resources, young population, and industrial ambitions, Ramokgopa pushed back against the notion that the continent is lagging behind. Africa is not a deficit story. It is a story of resilience and ambition. What we lack is access to affordable and patient capital Ramokgopa He urged support for the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Africa Energy Efficiency Strategy, warning that declarations without delivery would only widen inequality. The minister reiterated South Africa's position that each country must determine its own energy trajectory, based on national priorities, energy mix, and existing infrastructure. 'There is no single model. No uniform pace. No imposed prescription,' he said, stressing the principle of energy sovereignty. ESKOM GAINS Outside of G20 discussions, Ramokgopa also noted progress at home in stabilising South Africa's electricity supply. On Tuesday, he congratulated Eskom for achieving significant improvements in its Energy Availability Factor (EAF), a key metric of power station performance. 'Eight of the fourteen power stations are registering EAFs of 70% and higher, including one performing at 91.1%. This is a remarkable improvement from the average low of 48% in early 2023,' he said. Eskom confirmed the figures in a statement, attributing the gains to a steady drop in unplanned outages and consistent implementation of its generation recovery plan. The EAF has now reached 71%, excluding additional support from Kusile Unit 6, which has not yet entered commercial operation. Ramokgopa said the focus now shifts to resolving load reduction measures and stabilising the cost of electricity. 'I do understand the urgency. Announcements will follow soon,' he said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HSBC Pours $54 Billion Into Green Deals--Right After Ditching Net-Zero Pact
HSBC (NYSE:HSBC) is still piling into sustainable financeeven as it steps away from climate alliances. The bank just announced $54.1 billion in sustainable financing in the first half of 2025, up 19% from a year earlier. That brings its total to $447.7 billion since 2020, closing in on its 2030 goal of $750 billion to $1 trillion. The figure includes everything from green loans to underwriting and investment services. While HSBC didn't break down the numbers in detail, the rising momentum suggests demand for climate-focused capital isn't cooling off just yet. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with HSBC. But here's the twist: this comes just weeks after HSBC became the first major UK bank to exit the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. That move followed a wave of withdrawals by U.S. and Canadian lenders. The message? HSBC could be looking for more room to maneuverespecially around fossil fuel financing. Instead of sticking with the alliance's playbook, the bank is signaling it wants flexibility as it navigates a politically and economically sensitive energy landscape. Still, the bank insists it hasn't walked away from climate goals. In its latest report, HSBC called the transition to net zero a key priority. But this dual-track approachaggressively ramping up sustainable finance while stepping back from public climate pledgescould mark a shift in how big banks approach ESG. For investors, HSBC may be a case to watch as the green finance narrative enters a more pragmatic phase. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
ASEAN nations can overcome space, disaster constraints in pursuit of nuclear energy: IAEA chief
SINGAPORE: As Southeast Asian nations grow their ambitions for nuclear energy to meet rising power needs and climate goals, obstacles such as natural disasters and geographical limitations can be addressed, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Friday (Jul 25). Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must also disseminate more information to tackle public perceptions of nuclear energy that are influenced by past nuclear disasters such as the 2011 Fukushima incident, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said in a media interview. Mr Grossi was in Singapore on Friday as part of the S R Nathan fellowship, a high-level programme for foreign leaders and prominent individuals to visit the country. As part of his visit, Mr Grossi met President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and delivered a lecture hosted by the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) at the National University of Singapore. Mr Grossi and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu then signed a renewed agreement to help developing nations build nuclear expertise through fellowships, scientific visits and training courses. Speaking to local media after the day's activities concluded, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mr Grossi reiterated his belief that Singapore is well-placed to adopt nuclear technology as the city-state faced "no insurmountable challenges". "Singapore is a very special case, because this country, it has a fine technology base in general ... it has a mature regulator, nuclear regulator. It has very good nuclear safety research capabilities," said Mr Grossi, adding that the "institutional pillars" that are typically necessary in a newcomer country were present. "I think all of this groundwork has been done here. So in my opinion, when the country, the government, decides to move into a programme, it will be relatively fast," he added. "I don't see, as I said, any obstacle. In some countries, it will be the finance - impossible - or the lack of human capacity, workforce, you don't have those problems in Singapore. This is why I was saying at the beginning of our conversation that there are many steps, many boxes that have been checked already in Singapore." That said, Mr Grossi noted that Mr Wong and Mr Tharman had stated to him during their meetings that no decision had been made regarding the deployment of nuclear energy here. At the same time, the country has been taking steps to expand its research into nuclear safety, including the establishment of SNRSI earlier this month to further studies into this area. Singapore's renewed agreement with IAEA would also enable international nuclear experts to gather in the country to conduct capacity building activities for nuclear research, which will also benefit participants from Singapore. Nuclear power presents a potential source of clean energy and the advancement of nuclear technology, especially in the area of small modular reactors (SMR), makes it a potential option as Singapore works towards decarbonisation. In 2012, the government said that a pre-feasibility study concluded that nuclear energy technologies available at the time were not suitable for deployment as the risks still outweighed the benefits for a small and dense country like Singapore. Answering another question about Singapore's geographical limitations, Mr Grossi said that the lack of space was not a negative factor. "In case there was a deployment here, even within a limited geographical space ... there would not be any problem to have precautionary measures of any type. These measures include protocols and procedures on what to do in the event of an accident, Mr Grossi said. "The idea that introducing nuclear power generates an immediate risk ... is not sustained by reality. Of course, any technology - and nuclear is not an exception - entails risks," said Mr Grossi, adding that risks should be managed and reduced to a minimum. Asked to elaborate on why he did not see space as a limitation, Mr Grossi said that the underlying assumption was a "worst-case scenario". "I would say that, if this is the criterion, other industrial activities ... will also have negative effects in a relatively constrained space like the one here. This is why there are specific plans for that. "Let me put it this way, any geographical space is limited in some way. When you have a nuclear power plant in China, for example, of course, the country is huge, but the vicinity of the plant would also ... be affected," he said. 03:05 Min ASEAN'S AMBITIONS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY Singapore is not alone in exploring nuclear power within the region. There are currently no operational nuclear reactors in Southeast Asia, but countries like the Philippines and Indonesia have set targets to operate nuclear power plants in the early 2030s. Nevertheless, these regions are also prone to earthquakes, which are one of the many factors the IAEA takes into consideration when dispensing advice on where to situate nuclear plants. "The IAEA has services specifically oriented at that. Where are you planning to build your nuclear power plant? And here, what comes into play is the geological situation of a place, the access to water with a number of things," Mr Grossi said. An intergovernmental organisation, the IAEA works with member states to promote the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy. Singapore has been a member state since 1967. "The IAEA has expertise and people who are specialists in this concept called siting. So this is a very major element," Mr Grossi added. Asked if the IAEA considered a nation's political stability a key factor in letting it pursue nuclear technology, Mr Grossi replied that it was every country's "sovereign right" to decide whether it wanted to engage in a nuclear programme. However he noted that countries undergoing political turmoil would not usually engage in something that required much planning and institutional effort. Mr Grossi also said that it is up to the individual ASEAN nations to decide whether to explore nuclear energy alone without any collaboration with other countries. That said, bilateral partnerships are also possible. He referred to the example of the Krsko power plant in Slovenia, which supplies energy to both Slovenia and Croatia. This showed how two relatively small countries agreed to situate a nuclear plant in one country but split energy between both, he said. "You can imagine as many arrangements as the countries would like. Here, there is no pre-baked solution. It will depend if there is a will. So it is a dialogue that perhaps countries in ASEAN might wish to have." PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE INFORMED Mr Grossi also spoke of the importance for governments and the region to disseminate more information and for the public to familiarise itself with nuclear technology. "The reality is that all the ASEAN governments are approaching the agency and telling me that they want nuclear energy ... so there is a lot of interest in the area," said Mr Grossi. "It is clear that we have 60 years of nuclear experience in the world, that more than 400 reactors are operating in the world without problems." "So in my opinion, it would be good to do more, to do more information sharing, campaigns of education, dissemination of this information because it's true that the public perceptions may still be influenced by a certain inertia from past examples." The Fukushima incident, for instance, has "left quite a strong impression in some layers of society", he added, referring to the 2011 nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan's Fukushima prefecture. To address such fears, Mr Grossi said transparency was key. He added that a lot of wastewater has been treated and discharged in a controlled manner. "So, so far so good ... But we are going to continue. I said that the IAEA will be present until the very last drop of this water. "So this is, I think, a way to prove that we are there, that we are not going anywhere." On how the IAEA will strike a balance between being an authoritative power and maintaining global nuclear security when nuclear programmes were of political sensitivity, Mr Grossi said that the "best and most important element" was to work within the "family of nations" in the IAEA. "Every country that is operating normally and safely and with no proliferation concerns is a member of the IAEA ... receives the inspections, does the safety and security reviews, participates actively in the regulatory activities, countries that have transparency." Asked to rate how prepared ASEAN was to adopt nuclear energy at this point, Mr Grossi declined to give a score. "There is no such thing as an ASEAN energy output, because the countries are part of what ASEAN is but there is a huge difference between Myanmar and Singapore, or between Vietnam and Thailand.
Washington Post
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Washington Post
Let Americans drive the best electric vehicles
American consumers are being denied access to some of the world's most advanced and affordable electric vehicles (EVs) — specifically those made by China's BYD, the world's largest EV manufacturer. BYD produces sleek, efficient models, such as the Seagull, which sells for about $8,000 in China. Yet American buyers can't even test-drive them due to strict tariffs, protectionist policies and geopolitical tensions. While these policies aim to protect American jobs and national security, they also limit consumer choice and hinder climate goals by slowing EV adoption. Meanwhile, American EV makers struggle to deliver truly affordable, mass-market models. If the U.S. wants to lead on climate, it must embrace — or at least allow — competition. Consumers should be trusted to choose the best vehicle, not forced into a corner by policy walls. Jagjit Singh, Los Altos, California I am Canadian and the proud owner of a Tesla Model Y. I don't own Tesla stock directly, unless it's a small part of my mutual funds investments. Americans might not agree with Elon Musk, MAGA or other politicians including the president, but they should not forget that Tesla cars available for sale in the U.S. are designed, assembled and sold by fellow Americans. When cars are being trashed or vandalized, it's not Musk who suffers the consequences. He is rich enough not to have to care. Tesla revolutionized the automotive industry and started a worldwide race to electrify a semi-dormant manufacturing sector, pushing cars into the 21st century. China immediately pounced on the opportunity, copying and improving some aspects of electric vehicle manufacturing. It lowered the price of the cars and is in the process of flooding the world market. Trade barriers for Chinese imports won't work in the long term. If an American company such as Tesla does not take the lead in electric vehicle innovation and production, a Chinese company will. A few years from now, perhaps even sooner, Americans will mourn the lost opportunity of being the world power in the electric car industry. Vladimir Sorin, Markham, Ontario, Canada The Post's July 5 Climate article 'In fight over clean energy, Trump condemns it as 'ugly'' noted that President Donald Trump believes that wind and solar energy equipment is ugly. His insight is a little late and also completely unoriginal. Impressionists of the 19th century believed that industrialism was ugly. Whoever is committed to industrialism and all the creature comforts it provides is also committed to 'ugly.' Wayne Bert, Arlington Regarding The Post's July 5 editorial, 'Trump could lead a nuclear renaissance': President Donald Trump's real estate and dealmaking experience could benefit the country should he turn it toward establishing a spent nuclear fuel repository. Recycling of used fuel could yield more useful energy and less volume to be deposited. First, some perspective: Only about one square mile is used for a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant, and about eight square miles are used for the nameplate-equivalent solar facility. (Results may vary: Say, if one includes the emergency planning zone of a nuclear power plant — a zone that should shrink substantially with newer reactors — and if one includes the addition of a larger solar facility footprint to account for intermittent energy production and the need for backup power plants or batteries at night.) Such footprints are important considerations as energy needs grow. However, waste streams also need to be addressed. Someone with real estate and dealmaking prowess could help break the logjam in Congress with finding locations and constituents — e.g., workers looking for jobs and local economies — to host recycling and repository facilities for spent nuclear fuel. Aging solar panels and worn-out batteries from a much bigger footprint will need attention as well. Steve Michals, Fairfax I want the Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors to focus on engineering, science and regulatory requirements. An important part of the application for these positions requires the applicant to address: 'How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. Maximum length of 1200 characters.' In the past, inspectors looked for safety and compliance issues in accordance with NRC policies. Their jobs are to focus on safety and not the president's policies. I hope we won't soon have inspectors who prioritize the president's wishes over safety, similar to Russian political commissars who enforced party lines rather than public health and safety. Jim Lieberman, Silver Spring The writer is a former director of the Office of Enforcement at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and assistant general counsel for enforcement. Central Texas just saw one of its deadliest disasters in a century. Flash floods swept through the Hill Country — especially along the Guadalupe River — killing more than 100 people, including dozens of children at Camp Mystic. The river surged more than 26 feet in under an hour, transforming a tranquil valley into a lethal waterway. This wasn't a freak accident. 'Flash Flood Alley,' the area where the Hill Country meets the Guadalupe watershed, is inherently flood‑prone due to steep, impermeable terrain that funnels torrential rain into narrow river valleys. Yet we continue to build homes, summer camps and schools right on those riverbanks. We experience a flood, rebuild with the help of government-backed insurance and do it all again after the next disaster. The National Flood Insurance Program was not designed to enable repeated spending on doomed homes. Yet, it has done precisely that. It underwrites the rebuilding of homes in inherently unsafe zones, frequently at great public cost. And then there's federal emergency funding, which doubles down after every flood. Low-lying land along rivers and floodplains is not suitable for residential development. Areas near the Guadalupe River — and other flash-flood hot spots — must be rezoned immediately and used for agriculture. State and federal governments should cease issuing rebuilding permits in floodplains, deny NFIP payouts for new construction in those zones and convert flood areas into conservation lands or green infrastructure zones. If homeowners insist on tearing down and rebuilding, fine. But if they want to rebuild below the flood line? Deny the permits. Block the insurance. Let truth in zoning drive rational choices. If we don't legislate smart land use, we will continue to see paddle boats on streets in Houston during hurricane season and sobering headlines every time Gulf Coast rains roll inland. Moshe Alamaro, Cambridge, Massachusetts The writer is a retired atmospheric scientist. As a 17-year-old high school student, I'm terrified by how climate change is making floods such as the one at Camp Mystic this month more frequent and more intense. It's heartbreaking to think of children just like me who might have their lives forever changed or even cut short by increasingly dangerous floods, hurricanes and wildfires. Yet, at the very moment we most need them, our leaders are gutting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service. These agencies give us critical warnings and save lives. By slashing funding for forecasting, research and emergency alerts, we're gambling with the lives of my generation and the ones that will come after. We shouldn't leave our future up to chance. We deserve a country that values keeping people safe over budget cuts that put all of us in danger. Anagha Iyer, Miramar, Florida Regarding Michael J. Coren's July 17 Climate Coach column, 'If we want more affordable housing, we need to get creative': Coren's creative solutions for overcoming the affordable housing deficit are well worth consideration by every public official and civic group seeking to make headway on the issue. Regardless of whether one agrees with all of the proposed strategies, putting a wider range of options on the table is desperately needed. Alternatively, we will remain stuck among 'just build more' thinking, financing challenges, and housing and land use policies that do not consider the significant needs of lower-income people, including older adults. I would add 'maximize use of existing housing stock' as an option. Consider older adults: An AARP survey last year found that 75 percent of adults ages 50 and older hoped to remain in their current home for as long as possible, commonly referred to as 'aging in place.' Of course, some people have the means to keep their homes in good shape and make whatever modifications they want or need. For older people, people with disabilities and others of more modest means, their dwellings might become increasingly uninhabitable. To keep units in habitable condition, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities, we could expand weatherization and accessibility modification services. Resources such as Rebuilding Together could grow and help with necessary modifications as well as regular updating and maintenance. We could incentivize building upon the bones of housing in declining neighborhoods. Home-sharing programs, with protections built in for both owner and renter, are another option to make rent more affordable and offset costs for owners. In doing so, the number of affordable units would increase — again, without building new structures and adding to the supply of affordable units. Or invest in cooperative 'villages,' a concept in which residents in a given area pool their resources to help one another with tasks such as repairs, transportation and appointments. We could also expand in-home health services to make care available and affordable to those whose needs fall far short of assisted living or long-term care. Building more affordable housing is imperative. Capitalizing on existing housing stock should be a part of the equation as well. Irv Katz, Falls Church
