Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 8, 2023

Yet, driven by vested interests in the fossil fuel industry , misleading narratives aim to distort and hinder meaningful climate commitments. Fossil fuels are the problem It’s pretty simple: the burning of fossil fuels is the main driver of climate change. billion tons of the 40.5

Fossil Fuels 336

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 336

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 12, 2022

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.

Fossil Fuels 355

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy Paris Agreement 355

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

The decision at the Glasgow climate conference to phase down fossil fuels is an important step forward — and not just because of climate change. We think of fossil fuels as a source of climate change, but that’s only a one part of the problem. Fossil fuels are a case in point. Consider coal.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Water Act Climate Change 246

Legal Planet

AUGUST 18, 2022

Production and combustion of fossil fuels imposes enormous costs on society, which the industry doesn’t pay for. A more promising alternative might be a clean-up tax on the fossil fuel industry. It wouldn’t require placing bets on what zero carbon technologies will win out. Download as PDF.

Fossil Fuels 278

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Politics Carbon Emissions 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 27, 2023

Fossil fuel power plant owners are facing increased accountability for their air and water pollution, including from a new round of environmental and public health protections that are being rolled out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We’ve heard these lazily disingenuous narratives before.

Fossil Fuels 272

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2014 Climate Change 272

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Even with the clean energy transition well underway, gas plants will be around for a while as we phase out fossil fuels. But in the long-term, the jury is still out, and clean energy technologies such as long-duration energy storage could play a major role in meeting grid reliability needs if we accredit gas capacity more accurately.)

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Technology 279

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 7, 2022

This being Black History Month, I thought it would be worthwhile looking at the fossil fuel industry’s racial history. But coal ended up in the same place as oil, because Jim Crow left Black workers the most vulnerable to technological change. Those bottom rungs were decimated by new technology. Oil and gas.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Technology Technology Government 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 24, 2023

Utilities and grid operators prepared for the storm as it was coming down the pike, but they still underestimated the energy demand it would trigger, as well as the number of outages at fossil fuel power plants—mainly natural gas-fired, plus some coal-fired plants. See my colleague Julie McNamara’s blog for caveats about hydrogen.)

Fossil Fuels 277

Fossil Fuels 2014 Climate Change Electricity 277

Yale E360

JANUARY 27, 2023

Solar, wind, electric vehicles, and other clean energy technologies saw a record-high $1.1 trillion in investment globally last year, matching investment in fossil fuels for the first time ever, according to a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Read more on E360 →

Fossil Fuels 250

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2022 Electricity 250

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

The same scenario has played out with the power plants that use fossil fuels, predominantly methane (“natural”) gas, delivered by pipelines. At the same time, extreme weather events are becoming more common as more fossil fuel is burned and carbon is released into the air. It’s a vicious feedback loop.

Fossil Fuels 239

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 239

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 23, 2023

And fossil fuel power plants may not stick to their retirement schedules for a variety of reasons. The bottom line: There’s still a long way to go, and the clean energy transition must move quicker than it has been—despite the fossil fuel industry’s self-serving claims to the contrary. A bit more on those reasons later.

Fossil Fuels 239

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 239

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 30, 2024

Heres a taste, from US projects, technologies, electrons, and investment, to happenings in the world as a whole. Policy drivers State leadership has been important in driving the development and adoption of clean energy for decades, and remains key to accelerating the move toward clean energy and away from fossil fuels.

Clean Energy 278

Clean Energy 2024 Wind Power Renewable Energy 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 13, 2022

I was invited to speak at a panel discussion last Wednesday as part of The Economist ’s annual Sustainability Week, titled “What technologies are needed to avert a climate disaster?” True to the theme, I was asked about which technological innovations would be necessary to save our planet. And yet, we aren’t.

Technology 264

Technology Technology Climate Change Fossil Fuels 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 21, 2023

While industry tried to paint hydrogen combustion engines as a “bridge” technology to hydrogen fuel cells, their own presentations undermined that very point—instead, this path is a clear dead end. We need to make sure regulators like EPA and CARB restrict its usage before it gains a fossil-fueled foothold in the marketplace.

Technology 323

Technology Technology Fossil Fuels Electricity 323

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 17, 2025

By examining possible trajectories for global economic development, technology adoption, and policy actions, the driving forces behind emissions, these scenarios help us assess a range of potential climate futures. levels of cooperation or competition among countries, technology adoption, and inequality) in terms of radiative forcing.

Radiation 174

Radiation Sea Level Climate Change Fossil Fuels 174

Yale E360

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Farmers in hot, arid regions are turning to low-cost solar pumps to irrigate their fields, eliminating the need for expensive fossil fuels and boosting crop production. But by allowing them to pump throughout the day, the new technology is drying up aquifers around the globe. Read more on E360 →

Fossil Fuels 359

Fossil Fuels Technology Technology 359

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

For more than 50 years, we have pioneered new policies and ushered in new technologies to clean our air and protect our climate. Over its short lifetime, the program has already transformed many segments of the fuels market. If CARB approves amendments to the program, the shift to clean fuels in California will only accelerate.

Air Pollution 279

Air Pollution Fossil Fuels Greenhouse 2010 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

The legislation committed nearly $400 billion to support, among other things, wind and solar power, battery storage, electric vehicles, and other clean energy technologies that will make a significant dent in US heat-trapping emissions. It also will save US consumers money because they will spend less on fossil fuels.

Carbon Emissions 331

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2030 331

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 29, 2023

Earlier this month at COP28 countries committed to transitioning off of fossil fuels and massively scaling up renewable energy instead. So you’re excused if, like me, you’re baffled by Minister Freeland’s first move in the wake of COP28: a giant new fossil fuel subsidy, via the new Canada Growth Fund.

Fossil Fuels 141

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy Solar Power 141

Yale E360

JUNE 7, 2022

Some analysts see the technology as a necessary tool in reducing emissions, but others say it simply perpetuates the burning of fossil fuels. Long discussed but rarely used, carbon capture and storage projects — which bury waste CO2 underground — are on the rise globally. Read more on E360 ?.

Fossil Fuels 304

Fossil Fuels Waste Technology Technology 304

Enviromental Defense

MARCH 27, 2024

New analysis from Environmental Defence reveals that despite federal government promises, funding to the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries remains high Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – New analysis released today by Environmental Defence reveals Canada’s federal government provided at least $18.6

Fossil Fuels 145

Fossil Fuels Government Renewable Energy 2028 145

New Scientist

AUGUST 16, 2021

Production of hydrogen from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage has been given the UK government’s backing, despite concerns that the technology does not capture all CO2 emissions, remains unproven commercially and perpetuates natural gas extraction

Fossil Fuels 125

Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Technology Technology 125

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 19, 2022

A transition to 100 percent renewable energy is about more than just technology. The shift from fossil fuels in the 100% RES scenario reduces the amount of harmful air pollution from power plants much more than in our “No New Policy”/business-as-usual scenario. by 2035 is needed. And our modeling shows renewables’ power.

Renewable Energy 363

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Nitrogen Oxides Clean Energy 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 23, 2025

The cost of other energy technologies matters as well. In its central decarbonization scenario, no new nuclear plants were built, indicating that its more cost-effective to utilize other zero-emission technologies. Second, as I mentioned earlier, the cost of other clean energy technologies matters too. There are three reasons.

Nuclear Power 240

Nuclear Power Clean Energy Technology Technology 240

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 6, 2025

Working Group 3: Mitigation of Climate Change Evaluates pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable development strategies, and the role of finance, technology, and policy in achieving net-zero emissions. Delegates questioned when (or if) the IPCC should develop methodologies for technologies with unclear risks.

Climate Change 179

Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Technology Technology 179

Ocean Conservancy

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Renewable energy technologies are rapidly advancing, becoming increasingly competitive and, in many cases, becoming cheaper in cost and more efficient than fossil fuels. This progress will continue to outpace any efforts to sustain outdated and inefficient fossil fuel systems.

Ocean 132

Ocean Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Politics 132

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 16, 2022

Union of Concerned Scientists’ (UCS) research shows that top fossil fuel producers’ emissions are responsible for as much as half of global surface temperature increase. The best solution: Replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. A small number of big corporations are responsible for the climate crisis.

Fossil Fuels 321

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 321

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 19, 2025

By Matthew Carroll, Penn State News Moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind and solar will require better ways to store energy for use when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. over the existing technology. million in the United States and found it can improve efficiency by 9.5%

Technology 71

Technology Technology Renewable Energy Clean Energy 71

Yale E360

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

climate plan is historic and will pump billions of dollars into advancing the transition away from fossil fuels. But a more far-reaching, innovative approach is needed to push forward the radically new technologies that will be required to decarbonize the economy. The new U.S. Read more on E360 ?.

Fossil Fuels 260

Fossil Fuels Technology Technology 260

Environment + Energy Leader

JANUARY 6, 2023

On January 11, Jessica Hunt will sit down with Mr. Sakellaris for a discussion on why today’s technology and market dynamics make us uniquely positioned for a turning point from a reliance on fossil fuels and how we can accelerate the transition to alternate energy sources.

Fossil Fuels 263

Fossil Fuels Technology Technology Clean Energy 263

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 13, 2024

Paul Arbaje is an energy analyst in the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists and an expert on electricity policies and reforms that reduce fossil fuel use and reliance. The energy enthusiast who owns their own homes can take further steps toward making their homes completely free of direct fossil fuel use.

Fossil Fuels 273

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 273

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

First and foremost, despite some fossil fuel interests swinging for the fossil fuel-favored fences, the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. What the Supreme Court decided in West Virginia v.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 15, 2022

And US wind jobs, currently totaling more than 100,000, should grow right along with the technology and the market. Wind power is now cheaper than fossil fuels—even existing coal plants—in many parts of the country. Flickr/Lance Cheung. Wind power is a bargain. J Rogers/UCS. We can do wind power right.

Wind Power 360

Wind Power Fossil Fuels Electricity Climate Change 360

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2022

The shift from fossil fuels in the 100-percent RES scenario reduces the amount of toxic power plant air pollution much more than what we called a “no-new-policy,” or business-as-usual, scenario. And what about fossil fuel-dependent workers and communities? Our analysis also demonstrates renewables’ power.

Electricity 279

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Communities and ecosystems continue to suffer the consequences of human-caused climate change , primarily from the burning of fossil fuels across our economy. The case for phasing out of fossil fuels and making a just and equitable transition to clean energy has never been more clear. comes from burning fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels 288

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides Carbon Emissions 288

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 13, 2024

That means it includes the extreme wildfires exacerbated by the fossil fuel industry that burned more than 4% of California in 2021 and 2022. come from burning fossil fuels and pesticide use, and ultrafine particles (PM0.1) These particles are categorized by size. These particles are categorized by size.

2024 312

2024 Fossil Fuels Ozone Air Pollution 312

Environment + Energy Leader

JANUARY 6, 2023

On January 11, Jessica Hunt will sit down with Mr. Sakellaris for a discussion on why today’s technology and market dynamics make us uniquely positioned for a turning point from a reliance on fossil fuels and how we can accelerate the transition to alternate energy sources.

Fossil Fuels 240

Fossil Fuels Technology Technology Clean Energy 240