University of Houston history professor Martin Melosi gives an overview of the defining invention of the 20th century, the automobile. Topics include environmental costs, energy use, the internal combustion engine (ICE), emissions, noise, the impact on the landscape, and suburbanization. (11,000 words with annotated bibliography)
March 26, 2010PBS (NOW)
| United States | fossil fuels: fracking
An interview with Josh Fox about his documentary "Gasland," which he created after a gas company came to his house looking to frack for natural gas. Fox itemizes how hydrualic fracturing brought more than gas, including bad water (heavy metals and methane), sick animals, health problems, mysterious explosions, and flaming tap water (23:45).
October 4, 2012VF Tanker
| Russia | fossil fuels: transport
Oil transport from Baku in the Caspian Sea to Astrakhan at the mouth of the Volga River began in the 1870s with wooden barrels and sailing schooners, but many ships were lost from cargo damage and instability. Bulk cargo holds soon cut costs 3x. Oil and kerosene transport in Nobel Brothers tankers on the Volga sped delivery as did their Baku–Batumi pipeline.
November 18, 2014The Financial Post
| United States | fossil fuels: pipelines
The U.S. senate was one vote short of passing a controversial KXL pipeline bill after 6 years of reviews and 5 studies stating there was no environmental impact. About 800,000 barrels per day of Albertan oil-sands crude is to be piped to U.S. refineries in Texas, although the exact route is still being contested in a Nebraska court.
April 21, 2016Crystol Energy
| North Sea | fossil fuels: oil
Despite a recent uptake from deep offshore drilling, once considered “unconventional,” North Sea oil production peaked around the year 2000 after almost 3 decades, resulting in smaller, more expensive, and technically challenging returns for its two main producers, Norway and the UK. UK gas also peaked in 2000 though Norwegian gas is still increasing.
November 1, 2016The Financial Post
| United States | fossil fuels: pipelines
The 5,500-mile Colonial pipeline will shut for at least a week after an explosion in Alabama killed one and injured five, hiking gas prices 13%. The largest U.S. refined products pipeline supplies about 33% of east-coast gasoline. An undamaged parallel distillates line for diesel and jet fuel was shut too. The accident occurred after a track hoe hit the gas pipeline.
January 4, 2017CTV News
| Canada | fossil fuels: emissions
A Lancet study found that living within 50 metres of a highway or major roadway increased the likelihood of developing dementia by 7% because of vehicle air pollution compared to living more than 300 metres away. No link was found to two other chronic neurological conditions – Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
January 6, 2017The Guardian
| Global | fossil fuels: emissions
Despite the VW cheating scandal, diesel cars still emit 10 times more NOx than trucks and buses. Carmakers use prototype cars for EU lab testing to bypass “Euro 6” emission standards, while heavy vehicles undergo stricter testing that reflects real-world conditions. New in-road car testing will require a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS).
February 1, 2017Forbes
| United States | fossil fuels: prices
Millions suffer the effects of global warming while the U.S. government denies the science, wiping websites of the words “climate change,” gutting regulations, and restricting the EPA. In 2015, the US emitted 5.4 billion tons of CO2, adding to rising temperatures that lead to increased healthcare, labor slowdowns, and environmental damage costing $200 billion.
February 21, 2017EcoWatch
| United States | fossil fuels: fracking
The frequency of fracking-related spills is much higher than thought according to a Duke University study in Environmental Science & Technology. Data shows 6,648 spills in 10 years in Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania alone and that almost 16% of wells spill hydrocarbons, chemical-laden water, and fracking fluids.
March 27, 2017Al Jazeera
| Middle East | fossil fuels: prices
Analysts discuss the state of oil with presenter Hazem Sika after OPEC and non-OPEC ministers met to discuss regulating prices given unlimited U.S. shale oil. In the last decade, prices have fluctuated between $30 to $145. OPEC will cut production by 1.2 mbpd and non-OPEC producers by .6 mbpd to keep prices at around $50. [24:49]
April 17, 2017The Telegraph
| Global | fossil fuels: prices
Oxford economics professor Dieter Helm predicts a permanent oil market downturn. The price surge to $140 a decade ago was because of the fast-growing Chinese market, but the coming low-carbon world spells future decline. EVs will also lower demand for transport fuel, oil’s main product along with petrochemicals.
July 5, 2017The Guardian
| G20 | fossil fuels: funding
Despite the need to keep global temperatures rising less than 1.5°C and ambitious claims to tackle climate change, G20 governments are still funding the fossil-fuel industry almost 4 times more than clean energy according to a 2017 report Talk is Cheap. G7 countries were also planning to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 but the US backed out.
July 9, 2017Peak Oil Barrel
| United States | fossil fuels: oil
Analysis on discoveries and reserves, production, and future scenarios in the Gulf of Mexico. A mature basin in slow terminal decline (shallow fields more so than deep-water with gas mostly exhausted), almost 1 mbpd is extracted by the 7 top companies: Shell (232 kbpd), BP (189), Anadarko (159), LLOG (77), Union Oil (57), Chevron (50), and BHP (48).
July 25, 201824/7 Wall St.
| United States | fossil fuels: prices
The cost to fill up at the pump has increased 25 times from $1 to $25 since the early 1930s. Gas prices depend on oil production, consumption, demand, refining capacity, transportation, the U.S. dollar, and politics. In the 1970s, the First Oil Shock doubled prices, while the 2008 financial crisis sent prices surging to $160/bbl. See the price from 1929 to now.
September 10, 2018The Guardian
| Global | fossil fuels: divest
Bill de Blasio and Sadiq Khan published an op-ed calling on cities to divest of fossil-fuel assets. Under 2% of the London Pension Fund Authority is in extractive fossil fuels, while in New York total divestment is planned within 5 years. Both hope to implement the Paris agreement despite national opposition. “Climate change knows no borders.”
A known amount of CO2 is produced from burning fossil fuels, either absorbed in the oceans, taken up by plants, or left in the atmosphere. About 57% has remained in the air, increasing the level to over 400 ppm (N2, O2, Ar, ... and CO2 gases mix easily). The level was higher millions of years ago from natural processes, but the recent increase is not natural.
October 8, 2018CBC
| Canada | fossil fuels: pollution
A fire at Canada's largest oil refinery, which produces more than 320,000 barrels per day and employs about 1,400 workers, was likely caused by a malfunctioning diesel-treating unit that removes sulphur. The "bed-shaking" blast at the Irving Oil facility injured 4 as flames shot up 30 metres and black smoke covered much of St. John's east side.
October 23, 2018CBC
| Canada | fossil fuels: prices
Canada announced a carbon tax for areas not implementing its climate change plan to reduce GHG emissions. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Yukon, and Nunavut will pay $20/tonne of emissions, increased $10/year to $50/tonne by 2022, most returned as rebates. The solution to climate change or a government cash-grab?
November 3, 2018CBC
| United States | fossil fuels: prices
Climate Solutions Caucus co-chair Ted Deutch (D, Fla) suggested carbon pricing could be tabled in the next Congress despite the president claiming climate change is a "hoax" and the planet "will change back again." Canadian carbon prices will rise to $50/tonne by 2022. The US produces 16.5 tonnes of carbon emissions per capita compared to Canada's 15.
November 30, 2018The Irish Times
| Alaska | fossil fuels: pipelines
After oil was discovered in 1968 at Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's North Slope – the largest oil strike in American history – a number of Irish immigrants arrived to help build the 800-mile Trans-Alaskan pipeline system to the ice-free port of Valdez. TAPS construction employed as many as 50,000 workers from 1974 to 1977, easing the 1970s fuel crisis.
December 7, 2018CBC
| Canada | fossil fuels: fracking
The British Columbia oil and gas regulator has shut down fracking for a month near Fort St. John after 2 seismic events between 3.4 and 4.5 Richter were measured, just under the world's largest fracking-induced 4.6-earthquake nearby in 2015. The local Chamber of Commerce opposed the shutdown, citing insufficient evidence about the link.
January 8, 2019Outside Online
| United States | fossil fuels: oil
During the U.S. government shutdown, 800 Bureau of Land Management staff kept working to process oil drilling applications and organize new drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. While BLM staff are unavailable for public queries, they are scheduling public input meetings with insufficient notice, especially problematic in winter in Alaska.
January 15, 2019
The Daily Mail
| United Kingdom | fossil fuels: coal
Photos from the 1860s show women working in the Welsh mining town of Tredegar. The "pit brow lasses" worked from 6 am to 6 pm earning about six shillings a day. Banned along with children under age 10 from working inside the pit by the Mines and Collieries Act of 1842, the female miners loaded carts, sorted coal, and broke up stone on the surface.
January 31, 2019CBC
| Canada | fossil fuels: pollution
Canada's top court ruled that companies must clean up their mess before paying creditors after going bust, overturning 2 lower-court decisions. The ruling effects Redwater Energy, who wanted to sell its share in 17 oil and gas wells to pay creditors, abandoning any cleanup. “Polluter pays” addresses an increase in "orphan" wells (over 3,000 in 5 years).
February 19, 2019CBC
| Canada | fossil fuels: transport
After a slowdown in new pipeline construction, Alberta will lease 4,400 railcars to transport oil sands crude to the US and Pacific. 3,400 new DOT 117J and 1,000 retrofitted DOT 117R cars will move 20,000 bpd from July rising to 120,000 by mid-2020. The project will net $2.2 billion over 3 years on $5.9 billion revenues and $3.7 billion cost.
Atmospheric CH4 has risen since 2007 and more rapidly since 2015 (> 1850 ppm). Generated as matter decomposes without much oxygen, CH4 comes from wetlands, bogs, sediments, and forest fires. 60% also comes from human activity – oil & gas (fracking, pipelines), farming (cow digestion), and rotting landfills, and is a 32x-more potent GHG than CO2.
March 12, 2019 Los Angeles Times
| Mediterranean | fossil fuels: oil
Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece are now Club Med Oil. In 2009, the natural gas field Tamar was found west of Haifa. A bigger offshore find in 2010, Leviathan, has made Israel a gas exporter, while the Zohr find in 2015 off Egypt is the largest yet. A $7-billion EastMed pipeline will transport Israeli and Cypriot natural gas to Europe, cutting Russian dependence.
March 14, 2019The Daily Mail
| United Kingdom | fossil fuels: pollution
Diesel vehicles continues to pollute cities around the world, endangering public health. In London, a new ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) has been created where polluting vehicles are charged £12.50 to drive into central London on top of a £11.50 congestion charge (weekdays 7am-6pm). Dirty diesel buses will also be replaced by 2020.
March 14, 2019El País
| Spain | fossil fuels: emissions
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels fell by 38% and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 14% in Madrid Central in the 4 months since local officials restricted access to most vehicles, while air quality also improved in the centre. Residents and non-resident drivers with CERO and ECO energy labels may enter the area.
March 20, 2019TreeHugger
| Saudi Arabia | fossil fuels: oil
Following coal-powered plant closures in the West, Asia has begun divesting from coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. Despite China's recent rapid growth, much of it fueled by coal, and Japan's energy crunch from the post-2011 tsunami nuclear shutdown, coal is now being phased out for renewables, good for reducing global warming and pollution.
The 80-tonne oil spill from the bulk carrier MV Solomon Trader that ran aground on a coral reef in the Solomon Islands in rough seas could take 4 months to clean. The slick has moved out from Rennell Island, the world's largest raised coral atoll and world heritage site, while a barge pump has removed about half of the 600 tonnes of oil still onboard the wreck.
April 1, 2019The Irish Times
| Europe | fossil fuels: emissions
Irish airline Ryanair is one of Europe’s top 10 carbon emitters, the first non coal-fired power plant so named. Airline emissions are especially bad, yet Ryanair’s emissions increased by 6.9% in 2018, prompting some to call airlines "the new coal." Its CEO has previously dismissed the impact of climate change as "complete and utter rubbish."
April 5, 2019TreeHugger
| Saudi Arabia | fossil fuels: oil
In 1948, American geologist M. King Hubbert wrote that oil output would eventually decline, later coining the phrase "Peak Oil" in a talk to the American Petroleum Institute. Fracking has slowed the end, but Saudi oil may now be in decline as output from its main "elephant" Ghawar field sputters. Ghawar once produced 10% of global oil (5 mbpd).
April 9, 2019USA Today
| United States | fossil fuels: gasoline
According to the fuel-savings app GasBuddy, which uses real-time data from about 150,000 U.S. gas stations, the cheapest filling day is Monday, while Friday is the most expensive, primarily because of changing traffic levels. The best and worst day varies for some states, but choosing the cheapest day in your area could save $30 a year.
April 11, 2019USA Today
| United States | fossil fuels: pipelines
Donald Trump signed two executive orders making it harder for states to block pipeline construction because of environmental concerns after New York and Washington states both stopped recent projects. One order is about transporting LNG in rail cars and the other speeds energy projects crossing international borders.
May 17, 2019Los Angeles Times
| United States | fossil fuels: emissions
A 2015 natural gas blowout, the largest-known methane release in U.S. history, was caused by a corroded pipe casing and utility safety failures according to a California Public Utilities Commission report. The 4-month-long blowout sickened thousands of LA residents and cost Southern California Gas Co. about $1 billion to temporarily house 8,000 families.
May 22, 2019Dutch News
| The Netherlands | fossil fuels: natural gas
A 3.4-Richter earthquake struck the Dutch province of Groningen after ongoing natural gas extraction, prompting 90 reports of damage (12 immediate assessments). Centred in Loppersum, the quake was the third strongest since recent ground-settlement problems began. Started up in 1959, the Groningen field is the largest natural gas field in Europe.
May 27, 2019Los Angeles Times
| United States | fossil fuels: natural gas
North Dakota drillers continue to burn off excess natural gas in the Bakken Formation, 5 years after state laws limited the practice to 15% by 2016 (10% by 2020). A record 2.8 billion cubic feet per day was extracted in March 2019, 20% of it flared, increasing harmful and wasteful emissions. North Dakota is the second biggest U.S. oil producer after Texas.
May 29, 2019USA Today
| United States | fossil fuels: natural gas
In a press release, the U.S. Department of Energy referred to natural gas as "freedom gas" and "molecules of U.S. freedom." Headed by Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, the DOE has authorized increased natural gas exports from an offshore Texas terminal.
The top European cruise ship company emitted about 10x more sulphur oxide (SOX) in 2017 than did all of Europe's 260 million cars. Spain, Italy, and Greece suffered the most SOX air pollution. SOX emissions produce sulphate (SO4) aerosols that increase human health risks and acidification of terrestrial and aquatic environments.
June 10, 2019Inside Climate News
| Portland, Maine | fossil fuels: emissions
Industrial bunker fuel and asphalt tanks near schools have been emitting more than twice the allowed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) since at least 2013, problematic for health and climate change. One study found that ground-level ozone from oil and gas production causes more than 750,000 asthma attacks in children in the US each year.
June13, 2019Bloomberg
| United States | fossil fuels: emissions
The U.S. armed forces are the world's leading institutional GHG emitter, larger than even some countries, emitting 1.2 billion metric tons of CO2e from 2001 to 2017, more than 2% of a global total of 53.5 billion, 400 million tons of which were in major war zones. At current California cap-and-trade costs of $17.45/ton, the bill would be $21 billion.
June 14, 2019CounterPunch
| Global | fossil fuels: emissions
Led by China, the US, and the EU, humans release about 40 billion tons of CO2 per year, 8.4 billion from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas). Per capita, the US and Canada are the worst at more than 15 tonnes of CO2 per year. CO2 accounts for more than three-quarters of anthropogenic GHGs, while 7 million people die annually from air pollution.
Canada approved the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, a pipeline system twinned to the existing 1,000-km Trans Mountain route from Alberta to BC, opening more export beyond the US, though subject to regulations including ocean marine safety. Oddly, profits ($500 million/year) and eventual sale revenues will fund Canada's clean-energy transition.
June 19, 2019USA Today
| United States | fossil fuels: coal
Donald Trump announced an amendment to the Clean Air Act to keep open aging coal-power plants. The Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule replaces Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan blocked by the Supreme Court in 2016. 600 coal-fired units at 300 plants that might have closed because of excess CO2 can now more gradually reduce carbon emissions.
Gazprom's $11-billion, 765-mile pipeline under the Baltic from north of St. Petersburg to Germany hit a snag after Denmark refused territorial permission. Ukraine, Poland, and other anti-Russian allies oppose Nord Stream 2 as does the US who want to sell Europe LNG. Russia already sends the EU 50% of supplies, some in a near-parallel NS1 built in 2012.
Annual maintenance time and cost at Norway’s 3 main gas export plants has been reduced from 50-80% thanks to pre and post robotic inspection. Better cameras and 3D modelling also help during unplanned outages at the Gassco plants. Norway is Europe’s #2 gas exporter after Russia, piping 114.2 bcm of gas to Europe in 2018.
June 27, 2019New Scientist
| Global | fossil fuels: emissions
Non-CO2 contrails from airplanes have a greater effect on atmospheric warming than their CO2 emissions, and will triple as air travel quadruples by 2050. Flying produces 5% of global warming, including the net warming effect of contrails as water vapour condenses on emitted soot particles at high altitude, freezing to form a heat-trapping cirrus cloud.
June 27, 2019Peak Oil
| Global | fossil fuels: oil
BP's analysis of energy data states there is no oil shortage, estimating proved reserves at 1.73 trillion barrels, good for 50 years at current production rates. By applying Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) standards, Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy estimates only 386 billion barrels, 25% that of BP. Quality not quantity may be the new mantra.
June 28, 2019Peak Oil Barrel
| United States | fossil fuels: oil
U.S. monthly power figures released by the EIA for April 2019 show that renewable energy (23%) exceeded coal (20%) for the first time ever. The record 30,000 GWh from wind power in April broke the previous record of 27,000 GWh in March 2018, while solar’s 10,000 GWh in April was almost 3 times April 2015, and has been trending up every year.
July 4, 2019TankerTrackers
| Gibraltar | fossil fuels: transport
The Iranian very large crude container ship Grace 1 was detained by Gibraltar after a 10-week voyage from Iran. Initially believed to be carrying fuel oil for Syria for an at-sea ship-to-ship transfer near Baniyas, the authorities stated the vessel is fully laden with 2.1 million barrels of light crude oil and that the captain and first mate had been arrested.
July 4, 2019USA Today
| United States | fossil fuels: coal
The demise of Revelation Energy may cost 1,800 miners their jobs in 4 states on debt of $156 million. Kentucky- and Virginia-based Cambrian Coal went bust in June and Wyoming-based Cloud Peak Energy (once the 3rd-largest U.S. coal producer at 7.4%) lost 1,300 workers at its May filing. Changes in demand and the Clean Air Act have been blamed.
Despite Mexico having some of the best wind and solar locations in the world, the new leftist president cancelled 2 renewable-energy transmission-line projects, restricted power generation to the state-owned utility, withdrew planned energy auctions, prioritized fossil-fuel investment, and labelled renewables as unreliable and expensive.
July 30, 2019USA Today
| United States | fossil fuels: emissions
Lack of pipelines and gas capture systems has lead to an almost 50% increase in methane flaring at fracking sites. 1.15 billion cubic feet of natural gas was flared daily in North Dakota and Texas, equivalent to running about 5 million cars a day. As seen from space, flaring in the Bakken is on par with the nights lights of Chicago.
August 29, 2019Forbes
| United States | fossil fuels: emissions
The EPA wants to change methane emission rules in the oil and gas sector that account for 10% of U.S. greenhouse gases. Methane (CH4) has 80 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period. The change reduces new monitoring technology for storage tanks, pipelines, and wells, but will regulate volatile organic compounds.
September 3, 2019CounterPunch
| Colorado | fossil fuels: fracking
A law protecting public health, safety, and the environment before permitting oil and gas wells is being “slow-walked” for 16 “Objective Criteria” set out by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Over 450 wells were approved since SB 181 was signed despite health issues cited in a compendium on fracking, including from wastewater and flaring.
September 24, 2019CounterPunch
| Saudi Arabia | fossil fuels: security
Modern warfare changed when 18 drones and 7 cruise missiles struck Saudi oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais, knocking out half of its crude oil production and increasing world prices by 20%. Sophisticated and expensive military weapons and defense systems can no longer match cheap drones, raising the threat of more oil disruption in the Middle East.
September 24, 2019Global News
| Alberta | fossil fuels: pipelines
After a court-ordered U.S. State Department report cleared the long-challenged, $8-billion, 1,900-km, 800,000-barrel KXL pipeline, TransCanada announced it would start preparing pipe yards, transporting pipe, and mowing sections of the right-of-way in Montana and South Dakota. A few lawsuits are still pending, while opponents have vowed to fight on.
September 24, 2019Los Angeles Times
| California | fossil fuels: natural gas
Citing possible energy shortages, the PUC recommends 4 coastal natural gas plants stay open after 2020, even though they use seawater cooling that kills fish and other marine life. The largest state source of electricity is gas (35%), while one-third currently comes from renewables sources. California has mandated 100% renewable energy by 2045.
September 24, 2019Reuters
| Germany | fossil fuels: emissions
Prosecutors announced charges against VW CEO Herbert Diess, Hans Dieter Poetsch, and ex CEO Martin Winterkorn for stock market manipulation (delayed telling investors of wrongdoing), resulting from the 2015 software cheat in U.S. diesel engine tests that cost VW more than $30 billion in refits, fines, and provisions. The bosses contend they knew nothing.
October 7, 2019CBC
| Canada | fossil fuels: emissions
Norway’s largest pension fund (KLP) with about $100 billion in assets has sold off its oil-sands stock, valued at $77 million, likening harmful oil production emissions around Fort McMurray to coal. Cenovus Energy, Suncor Energy, Husky Energy, Imperial Oil, and Tatneft PAO (Russia) were affected. Athabasca oil sands produce 9.3% of Canada’s GHG emissions.
October 13, 2019Bloomberg
| United States | fossil fuels: shale oil
Reduced growth in 2020 and a 20% drop in drilling rigs since last year marks the end of the 2nd shale boom (2016-2019), following the original shale gale (2010-2014). Output in the Permian, the most prolific U.S. shale basin, has dropped 11% in just 9 months, although a 3rd boom is expected as oil majors focus on better extraction and not rapid output growth.
Since 2010, 5 oil and gas companies (Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Total) have spent €250 million lobbying EU decision-makers to delay climate action, while CO2 emissions continue to rise (now > 408 ppm). Since 2014, the 5 majors and their lobby groups (Cefic, IOGP, essenscia, FuelsEurope, eurogas) have met EU officials more than once a week.
October 31, 2019CBC
| Canada | fossil fuels: pipelines
The TC Energy Keystone pipeline spilled 1.4 million litres (about 9,000 barrels) of crude oil near Edinburg, North Dakota, contaminating local wetlands and increasing concerns about a larger proposed $6-billion KXL pipeline, which will transport diluted bitumen (dilbit) from Albertan oil sands to Texan oil refineries across North America's largest aquifer.
November 3, 2019Al Jazeera
| Saudi Arabia | fossil fuels: revenues
The world's largest oil-producing company, Saudi Aramco, and engine of the Saudi Arabian economy, will be floated on the domestic Riyadh exchange, offering up to 2% at an initial public offering (IPO). Valued at $1- to $2-trillion, an intended international listing was cancelled because of transparency concerns, security, and unproven reserves.
March 20, 2020Truth Out
| New Mexico | fossil fuels: fracking
Few fracking companies make a profit and need cheap money to survive. Low oil prices are perilous for state budgets with high oil & gas revenues as in Texas, California, Colorado, and New Mexico. The NM state fund loses $22 million for a $1 drop in prices. Asset retirement obligations (site cleanup and closures) will also be unlikely if bankruptcies increase.
In Europe, EVs emit 3x less CO2 than petrol/diesel cars on average, between 22% (Chinese battery, driven in coal-rich Poland) and 80% (Swedish battery in Sweden). By 2030, EVs will lower CO2 emissions 4-fold on a higher renewables-fed EU grid. EVs are much better than petrol/diesel “cradle to grave” although manufacturing is currently 30% higher.
May 12, 2020RenewEconomy
| United Kingdom | fossil fuels: coal
No coal power was generated in the U.K. grid for the first time since 1882 at the Holborn Viaduct, London, site of the first Edison and Parsons turbine. Carbon intensity drops each year as the UK aims for a zero-emission grid by 2025, weather depending (sidelined gas backup). A 2-GW loss in demand amid COVID-19 aided the coal-free month.
August 9, 2020The Guardian
| UK | fossil fuels: coal
Only 8 million tonnes of coal was burnt last year in the UK, a tenfold reduction in 5 years, and the same as when James Watt patented his steam engine in 1769. Over 200 million tonnes was consumed in the 1950s, leading the world in power, pollution, and disease – asthma, cancer, heart ailments, bronchitis, pneumonia, respiratory illnesses.
June 24, 2021Space
| Global | fossil fuels: emissions
As measured by NASA satellites, earth now absorbs twice the incident solar radiation than 14 years ago. Ocean heating data is also used to calculate the energy imbalance (difference in incoming and outflowing energy). Increased atmospheric CO2 and CH4 (more heat trapping) and decreased ice sheets (less reflected energy) are the main causes.
July 6, 2021CBC
| Alberta | fossil fuels: emissions
An Alberta brewery now collects the CO2 generated in the fermentation stage of making beer to carbonate the beer (yeast converts sugar to alcohol and CO2). The first small Canadian brewery to capture carbon saves about $60,000 a year on sourced CO2 canisters by scrubbing, compressing, and injecting the collected CO2 to recycle brewery emissions.
September 22, 2021The Guardian
| China | fossil fuels: coal
Chinese president Xi Jinping stated to the UN assembly that China will not build more coal-fired power plants abroad, following South Korea and Japan. The 3 Asian giants had financed 95% of foreign coal-power plants. The time frame, which plants, and if only finance is still unknown. China is the number-1 GHG emitter, but pledges to peak CO2 by 2030.
October 6, 2021CIC
| Canada | fossil fuels: pipelines
International oil economist and author John Foster outlines the current oil and gas hotspots, in particular the subsea Nord Stream 2 (NS2) pipeline from Russia to Germany. The $11-billion NS2 has been built but not yet certified, the basis for increasing troubles in the Ukraine through which most Russian gas bound for Europe previously passed. [54:16]
November 22, 2021Common Dreams
| Portugal | fossil fuels: coal
Providing 4% of grid power, the Pego coal plant in Abrantes northeast of Lisbon was shut down. As the last coal plant exhausted its coal supply, Portugal became the 4th European country after Austria, Belgium, and Sweden to end coal. The hope is that no fossil gas or biomass will be used. Portugal gets almost 70% of electricity from renewables.
January 3, 2022The Guardian
| Europe | fossil fuels: natural gas
The EU is accused of greenwashing for trying to add natural gas and nuclear in its “taxonomy of environmentally sustainable economic activities." France is in favour of including nuclear while Germany wants gas as a so-called "bridge" fuel. The label comes with billions of euros in funding for green projects to meet EU net zero emission goals by 2050.
Over 40 million natural gas stoves in the US release methane (CH4) via incomplete combustion, leaks (when off), and at ignition. Up to 1.3% is unburned methane (U.S. annual total 28.1 Gg ), equivalent to 500,000 cars (over 3/4 when off). Health-damaging pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) are also emitted and can trigger respiratory diseases.
July 21, 2022The Guardian
| Global | fossil fuels: industry
A first-of-its-kind analysis concluded that the oil industry has made over $50 trillion in profits since 1970. The windfall was enough to buy every politician and system, protecting the industry from government oversight, delaying action on global warming, and adding to consumer prices, while funding for alternatives has suffered.
May 18, 2023Cosmos
| Global | fossil fuels: natural gas
Satellites can now more accurately monitor the precise locations of methane emissions from coal mines and offshore wells. Last year, gas flaring released 350 million tonnes of CO2e (10% methane). The Copernicus SENTINEL-2 satellites are meant to monitor land surface changes, but are well-suited to measure output in hard-to-access areas.
With more renewables, oil production will drop from 100 million barrels a day by 2030 (peak demand). The biggest consumer is transport at 60%, two-thirds road fuel (cars, trucks, vans). In 2022, 14% of new car sales were electric, up from 9% in 2021 and 5% in 2020. China has 600,000 buses and 14 million EVs, half the global fleet. Petrochemicals are 16%.
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