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Ask a Scientist: How Close Are We to a Clean Energy Transition?

Union of Concerned Scientists

After the hottest summer on record, the world continues to witness extreme weather fueled by the burning of fossil fuels. We need to stop burning fossil fuels immediately. Thankfully, we are in the midst of a much-needed transition away from fossil fuels and towards a future powered by more renewables.

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5 Anti-Climate Practices Elsevier Must Cease: Scientists Call out Publisher’s Ties to Fossil Fuel Industry 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Earlier this year, The Guardian ran a powerful article exposing the ties of Elsevier, one of the world’s largest academic publishing companies, to the fossil fuel industry. The article caught my attention because I’d never considered the ways in which an academic publisher might be perpetuating and enabling a fossil fuel economy.

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2024 Year in Review: Clean Energy Progress Steeped in Solar and Storage

Union of Concerned Scientists

Storage represented 20% of the new US electrical capacity installed in the first three quarters of 2024, up from 14% in 2023 (and 1% in 2019). And for the first time since 2019, the United states is now manufacturing the solar cells that are the building blocks of solar panels. Cumulative US utility-scale battery power capacity.

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Modernizing the Energy Charter Treaty - EU wants to stop investment protection for fossil fuels

Energy and Climate Law

The aim of the EU is to try to stop fossil fuel companies suing states over climate action. One year ago, in October 2019, the European Commission made its position on the reform of the Energy Charter Treaty, the only multinational energy treaty that is in force since 1994, clear to the Energy Charter Secretariat.

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Why the Climate Accountability Act Matters to Me—and Wisconsin 

Union of Concerned Scientists

To underscore the negative impacts of fossil fuels on our grid, I also pointed to key research around resilience. With a robust climate plan, Wisconsin utilities would have to look beyond their legacy preference for fossil fuels and consider cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable alternatives.

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Wildfire Liability in California: A Primer 

Legal Planet

In 2019, Pacific Gas & Electric filed for bankruptcy because of billions of dollars of potential liability from fires the previous summer. The fires in L.A. have put litigation over wildfires on the front page and spotlighted Californias unique approach. But such litigation isnt new. billion settlement.

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Guest Blog: Fossil Fuel Promotion in City Facilities? Not in My Municipality

Enviromental Defense

Will the City of Ottawa ban fossil fuel promotion in City facilities? Fossil fuel advertisements indeed contradict the City’s policies on climate. City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and committed to a full phase-out of fossil fuels by 2050. It’s possible. And who knows?