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Dear friends and colleagues,

As we start this new year, there is some real cause for cheer.

For the first time, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is now predicting that fossil fuel demand will peak near-term as non-emitting sources begin producing the majority of global power by 2030.

Additionally, in their new annual World Energy Outlook, the IEA is no longer labelling “natural” fossil gas as a reliable transition fuel given its sustained pricing turbulence and proven climate impacts.

What’s more, in response to Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine and the energy price crisis that ensued, nations are installing record levels of solar and wind capacity to ensure both supply security and affordability.

Looking ahead, solar photovoltaic capacity is set to nearly triple by 2027, becoming the world’s largest source of power, while wind capacity will almost double.

Helping ensure this, following COP27 in Egypt, several wealthy nations are banding together to assist emissions intense but still-developing nations like South Africa and Indonesia accelerate their shifts from coal by 2030.

And now, as author Paul Hockenos points out, a growing number of solar mandates throughout Europe and the United States are beginning to take effect, obliging homeowners, businesses and public buildings to install more rooftop panels.

We hope you find these articles inspiring and look forward to sharing more in the new year.

Your Global Energy Transition Blog Team,
Martin Keim, Lisa Sandtner, Michael Buchsbaum, Joan Lanfranco and Leona Schmitt

Colombia part 2 | Global Energy Transition Podcast Season 2, Episode 2
Kathrin Henneberger entered Germany’s Parliament on a mandate from Green voters to accelerate the clean energy transition both at home and abroad. This summer Henneberger traveled to Colombia, visited with front line coal, oil and gas communities and began forging a new intergovernmental climate alliance. With her own country struggling to phase out coal and her constituents living on the edge of mine expansion, in this podcast, Henneberger shares her insights with lead blogger and podcaster, Michael Buchsbaum. The episode can be played here or on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Riding the Dead Cow: exploiting Argentina’s oil and gas reserves risks climate efforts
Argentina’s Vaca Muerta holds the second-largest known reserve of shale gas and the fourth-largest reserve of shale oil in the world. In the wake of the world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, drillers are accelerating fracking there as producers rush to backfill missing energy supplies. Lead blogger Michael Buchsbaum and campaigners from 350.org review the situation. Read more

Militancy won’t revive the global climate movement – targeted activism can
The global climate movement’s smaller numbers, expanded focus, distrust of parliamentary democracy, and radical offshoots reflect a mass movement frustrated with its inability to turn around international climate politics. But channeled in the wrong direction, this frustration could sap the movement’s power instead of energizing it. Paul Hockenos takes a closer look. Read more

Critical juncture: Poland’s government greenlights the country’s first nuclear power plant
The Polish government has taken another step towards realizing its long-held nuclear energy aspirations. In November an agreement was signed to construct a 9 GW plant over the next two decades. But given its projected costs and long timeframe, will this only slow Poland’s energy transition? Agata Skrzypczyk explains. Read more

In Serbia, Clean Energy Can’t Happen Fast Enough
Serbia’s coal reserves are dwindling in terms of quantity and quality, forcing it to import both more electricity and more coal. And doing so is leading to rising energy bills. As author Paul Hockenos reviews, recent events show Serbia’s coal deficit is only going to grow larger the longer it stays dependent upon on it. Read more

A recipe for the cold
The embargo on raw materials from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine exposed more of the weaknesses in the Polish energy system as well as many of it’s political errors. For many in Poland, if this winter proves a cold one, it could serve as an unwelcome reminder of communist-era shortages. Michał Olszewski has the details. Read more

energytransition.org

Photos: Podcast, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Riding the Dead Cow, Sflexas, CC BY-SA 4.0. Militancy won't revive the climate movement, Stefan Müller, CC BY 2.0, Critical Juncture, Hans Permana, CC BY-NC 2.0. In Serbia, Nenea hartia, CC BY-SA 4.0. A recipe for the cold, Janusz Maniak, CC0.

Sender: Heinrich Böll Foundation, The Green Political Foundation, EnergyTransition.Blog@eu.boell.org,
Editor and responsible according to German press law: Martin Keim.

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