GHG Emissions, Regulation, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  October 5, 2024

Weekend Reads: VP Candidates on Climate; UK Bids Farewell to Coal

It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:

Climate was a top question at the VP debate. Both candidates actually answered — sort of (Grist)  Vice presidential hopefuls Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, and J.D. Vance, the junior Republican senator from Ohio, faced off Tuesday night in New York. It was the first time the two men have debated, and likely the last debate of this year’s race to the White House. The evening began with a decidedly less awkward handshake than the one that kicked off the presidential debate a month ago, and quickly moved into a foreign policy question. One unknown at the outset, however, was to what extent the moderators or the candidates would bring up climate change. 

The UK has no coal-fired power plants for the first time in 142 years (Wired)  On Monday, the UK saw the closure of its last operational coal power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, which has been operating since 1968. The closure of the plant, which had a capacity of 2,000 megawatts, brought to an end to the history of the country's coal use, which started with the opening of the first coal-fired power station in 1882. Coal played a central part in the UK's power system in the interim, in some years providing over 90 percent of its total electricity.

Six truths about climate action that all companies should know (Time)  Just like there is no one way to solve the climate crisis, becoming a sustainability-driven company requires a multi-pronged approach to carbon mitigation and emissions reduction. Here are six essential truths every business should remember as they walk their sustainability journey. 

The rising power of ESG: It's not just better, it's better business (forbes.com)  In our current climate of heightened awareness and activism, the push from consumers for businesses to adopt sustainable and ethical practices has never been more evident. And investors care, too: They want and need to see more than just profits.

Sweden’s 100 GW offshore wind power ambition: Unlocking a renewable energy powerhouse (carboncredits.com)  Currently, Sweden’s electricity supply is largely generated by hydro and nuclear power, with wind energy playing an increasingly significant role in its energy mix. However, despite substantial offshore wind potential, the Swedish market is still in its infancy, with numerous projects awaiting permits. As the country’s offshore wind industry begins to take shape, developers and policymakers strive to address the challenges of spatial planning and the permitting process. 

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