Monthly Sustainability Bulletin - New
August - 2025
As China Renewable Capacity Soars, Utilisation Lags, Data Show
In just the first half of 2025, China added a record-breaking 268 GW of new solar and wind capacity—almost matching the US’ entire installed base of these technologies. This rapid build-out means China has already exceeded its 2030 wind and solar target of 1,200 GW, achieving the milestone six years early.
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August - 2025
Around 90% of Renewables Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels Worldwide, IRENA Says
A record 582 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable power capacity was installed worldwide in 2024 —nearly 20% more than the previous year —as clean energy investment surged globally. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 91% of those projects are now producing electricity at lower cost than fossil-fuel plants.
July - 2025
European Heatwave Caused 2,300 Deaths, Scientists Estimate
Around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during the severe heatwave that ended last week, according to a rapid scientific analysis recently published.
July - 2025
A Third of Pacific Island Nation Applies for Australian Climate Change Visa
More than one-third of Tuvalu’s population has entered the draw for a groundbreaking climate visa, offering permanent relocation to Australia.
June - 2025
Global Energy Investment Set to Hit Record $3.3 Trillion in 2025, IEA Says
Global energy investment is projected to hit a record $3.3 trillion in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), with two-thirds—roughly $2.2 trillion—dedicated to clean energy technologies.
June - 2025
$9 billion – Australia Faces Lengthy Flood Recovery
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has warned that recovery from the devastating May 2025 floods could cost up to $9 billion and take several months.
May - 2025
Global Warming Edging Past the 1.5°C Target
Scientists warn that global warming is edging past the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement, with April 2025 marking the secondhottest on record at 14.96°C—1.51°C above pre-industrial levels.
Over the past 12 months, average temperatures have been 1.58°C above that baseline. Although the Paris target is measured over decades, experts say a breach now seems inevitable, bringing more extreme weather.
April - 2025
Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost US Coal as Power Demand Rises
U.S. President Donald Trump signed executive orders to boost coal production in his latest action that runs counter to global efforts to curb carbon emissions. "We're bringing back an industry that was abandoned," Trump said at the White House last week.
March - 2025
United States Quits Board of UN Climate Damage Fund, Letter Shows
The United States has withdrawn from the board of the U.N.'s hard-negotiated climate damage fund, dedicated to helping poor and vulnerable nations cope with climate change-fuelled disasters, a letter seen by Reuters showed.
February - 2025
Global Energy Transition Investment Exceeded $2 Trillion Last Year
Global investment in the low-carbon energy transition worldwide grew 11% to hit a record $2.1 trillion in 2024, according to Energy Transition Investment Trends 2025, an annual report released by research provider BloombergNEF(BNEF). Growth was driven by electrified transport, renewable energy, and power grids, which all reached new highs last year, along with energy storage investment.
January - 2025
Trump Takes Aim at Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal Joe Biden's signature climate bill called the Inflation Reduction Act, which initially aimed at some $400 billion in new spending and tax cuts and credits at accelerating America's transition to a green energy economy. The Congressional Budget Office expects the cost to swell above $800 billion due to higher-than-expected demand for the tax credits; much of the direct funding has already been spent.
December - 2024
EU Looks to Geothermal in Drive for Energy Security, Document Shows
European Union countries plan to promote geothermal energy as they hunt for ways to replace Russian gas and bring down energy prices. The 27 EU members will jointly endorse geothermal energy for the first time at a meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels next week, according to a draft document seen by Reuters. The draft requests an EU strategy to reduce emissions from heating and cooling systems, and specific EU measures to speed up geothermal projects.
November - 2024
Climate Change is Making Temperatures Deadlier, Experts Warn
Climate change, driven by anthropogenic emissions, is raising temperatures to dangerous new heights, causing more frequent occurrences of extreme weather events, worsening drought and exacerbating food security. The Lancet Countdown, an annual report by doctors and health experts, found that the record temperatures of 2023 -the hottest year on record -meant the average person experienced 50 more days of dangerous temperatures than they would have without climate change.
October - 2024
Britain Promises up to $28.5 Blnfor Carbon Capture Projects
Britain will provide funding of up to 21.7 billion pounds ($28.5 billion) over 25 years to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects to curb emissions from industry and create new jobs in northern England, the government said in early October. "Carbon capture technology is not just about cleaning up our industry and our energy sector. It is a massive opportunity to attract investment and create thousands of skilled jobs," finance minister Rachel Reeves said when announcing the funding.
September - 2024
Summer of 2024 Was World's Hottest on Record, EU Climate Change Monitor Says
The world is emerging from its warmest northern hemisphere summer since records began, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said, as global warming continues to intensify. The boreal summer of June to August this year blew past last summer to become the world's warmest, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a monthly bulletin. The exceptional heat increases the likelihood that 2024 will outrank 2023 as the planet's warmest on record.