Energy

Trump promises a deal by mid-June, but many obstacles remain. By Tarique Niazi The second round of Iran-U.S. talks on April 19 successfully concluded in Italy. The Omani embassy in Rome hosted the talks, which went on twice as long as those held in Oman on April 12. Most importantly, Iran and the United States […]

Climate Crisis

South Africa’s Ambitious Renewable Energy Masterplan involves Solar Manufacturing

The Conversation

By Ricardo Amansure, Stellenbosch University (The Conversation) – About 85% of South Africa’s electricity is produced by burning coal. The country’s move to renewable energy means that the coal industry will be phased out. To this end, the South African cabinet recently approved the country’s first renewable energy masterplan, which sets out what’s needed to […]

Featured

Turkiye’s Solar Installations soared 39% last Year, as Wind and Solar hit 18% of Grid

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The energy consultancy Ember has issued a new report on solar energy in Turkiye. As I discussed last December, that form of energy is making tremendous strides there. Ember finds that in 2024, wind and solar surged ahead of coal for the first time. I remember my first visit to […]

Climate Crisis

South African Court said no to new Coal-fired Power: what’s behind the Ruling

The Conversation

By Melanie Murcott, University of Cape Town (The Conversation) – Three South African environmental and climate justice organisations took the South African government to court in November 2021, to challenge the authorisation of new coal-fired power as part of the country’s energy mix. Three years later, the court ruled that the government’s new coal plans […]

Featured

Solar Power doubling every 3 Years; 41% of world Electricity now Low-Carbon

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – It may be that Trump can slow the advance of renewables, including solar energy, in the United States. That would be a shame for the US, because consumers will have to pay more for electricity, the grid will be dirtier, and the country will fall farther behind China in the […]

Climate Crisis

Your Gasoline Car is an Engine of Trump’s Fascism: Resistance requires going Green

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Mussolini defined fascism as the “merger of state and corporate power.” But not all corporations are equally complicit. Obviously, our current fascist moment is driven in part by a merger of the US government with the portfolio of companies owned by Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. The focus on the […]

Featured

China’s BYD has a $16K “Tesla-killer,” as IEA finds EVs are an Oil Company-Killer

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Incredible new developments in electric vehicles are taking place in China with global implications. China’s BYD sold $100 billion worth of its electric vehicles (EVs) in 2024, outstripping Tesla, the sales of which were $97 billion. Since CEO Elon Musk has ruined the Tesla brand by attacking Americans’ social security, […]

CO2

CO2 in Atmosphere Higher than in 2 Million Years, with 2024 the Hottest Year Ever Recorded

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The annual report of the World Meteorological Organization concludes that in 2023, the latest year for which a complete analysis has been carried out, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere reached its highest level ever recorded —- about 420 parts per million (ppm). That’s 151% higher than […]

Featured

European CO2 Emissions keep Plummeting, as 47% of Electricity is Green

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The 27 countries of the European Union, with a population of about 450 million, produce 3.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, helping heat up and destabilize the global climate. This is according to the new EU report on energy dated 2025. But the good news is that […]