Energy

Wind turbines turn behind a solar farm in Rapshagen, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. 

War in Ukraine spurs 'rapid deployment' for renewables, energy chief says

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sent energy costs surging, European leaders scrambling for alternative suppliers of gas, and redirected flows of Russian oil toward Asia. Some European countries also burned more coal in response to the energy shock. But the most transformational long-term change will be in increased investments in renewable energy, according to International Energy Agency chief energy economist Tim Gould.

War in Ukraine spurs 'rapid deployment' for renewables, energy chief says
oil and gas platform surrounded by water

Norway becomes top gas supplier to Europe after Russia invasion

Norway becomes top gas supplier to Europe after Russia invasion
An offshore gas terminal is lit up amid the Atlantic Ocean as houses lay on the beachfront between the sea and the Senegal River, bottom, in Saint-Louis, Senegal, Jan. 18, 2023.

Europe looks to Senegal for new energy supply. But what’s in it for the Senegalese?

Europe looks to Senegal for new energy supply. But what’s in it for the Senegalese?
Akureyri is one of the few places in Iceland with forest.

This small Icelandic city thinks big about going green

This small Icelandic city thinks big about going green
two white wind turbines outside

War in Ukraine speeding up Germany's transition to renewables

War in Ukraine speeding up Germany's transition to renewables
In this photo taken Wednesday Sept. 2015, a man buys kerosene at a road side stall in Harare, Zimbabwe. 

Zimbabwe struggles to keep the power on

Along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia sits Lake Kariba, where low water levels have interrupted power supply to both countries — profoundly impacting the economy. 

Zimbabwe struggles to keep the power on
Guyana faces risks from climate change that include rising sea levels that could eventually submerge the capital Georgetown.

Guyana’s discovery of oil reserves has the nation split between boosting the economy and preserving the environment

Guyana is hoping that newly discovered offshore crude reserves can help transform the country's economy and offset its ongoing poverty crisis. But some people are concerned about what this may mean for the environment.

Guyana’s discovery of oil reserves has the nation split between boosting the economy and preserving the environment
A coal-fired power station in Witbank, South Africa , Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.

Scheduled blackouts roll South Africa into electricity crisis

The lights may be off, but "crisis mode" is definitely switched on in South Africa. Despite a national state of disaster and a new minister of electricity, scheduled power outages, known as load-shedding, continue to heavily impact citizens.

Scheduled blackouts roll South Africa into electricity crisis
A general view of Mes Aynak valley is seen some 25 miles southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, March 2, 2022. Buildings on top are offices of Chinese mining company MCC that won the contract to exploit the world's second-largest copper mine.

A Chinese company strikes a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from Afghanistan

Beijing signs onto a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from the north of Afghanistan. ​Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Group, discusses the implications of the agreement with The World's host Carol Hills.

A Chinese company strikes a deal with the Taliban to extract oil from Afghanistan
Shopkeepers and workers wait for electric power at a market following a power breakdown across the country, in Lahore, Pakistan, Jan. 23, 2023.

Lights out in Pakistan as energy-saving move backfires

Panic spread across Pakistan as many major cities, along with remote towns and villages across the country, were left in darkness as authorities struggled to make even partial restorations of the power supply, after an energy-saving measure by the government backfired.

Lights out in Pakistan as energy-saving move backfires
Felled trees on Karipuna territory in the Amazonian state of Rondônia.

Lula empowers Brazil's Indigenous peoples with their own ministry. But environmental protection remains a key concern.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made good on a series of campaign promises to defend the Amazon and empower Indigenous peoples. He already signed an executive order to relaunch a billion-dollar Amazon fund, where foreign governments can contribute to forest protection, among six other orders.

Lula empowers Brazil's Indigenous peoples with their own ministry. But environmental protection remains a key concern.
firefighters in a line

The world kept warming in 2022. Is the 1.5-degree Celsius target within reach?

Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is the most-repeated goal in the fight against climate change. But as each new year is among recorded history’s hottest, is it still a viable one? 

The world kept warming in 2022. Is the 1.5-degree Celsius target within reach?
The beach at the popular tourist resort of Puerto Peñasco in the state of Sonora, Mexico, September 2018.

Mexico’s clean energy plan could run into trouble at leaders’ summit

The North American leaders will be discussing immigration and the recapture of the son of drug cartel kingpin “El Chapo.” But also high on the agenda: a dispute over energy.

Mexico’s clean energy plan could run into trouble at leaders’ summit
grassy mountain

An unseasonably warm winter in Europe threatens ski resorts, tourism

​​​​​​​Countries across Europe are experiencing unseasonably warm weather this January, causing a headache for ski resorts and broader concern for what it might mean for the year ahead.

An unseasonably warm winter in Europe threatens ski resorts, tourism
Baker David Buelens puts the baguettes into a basket at a bakery, in Versailles, west of Paris, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. 

A bakers’ rebellion looms in France to defend baguettes

Due to soaring electricity costs, bakers in France can’t afford to turn on their ovens to bake bread. They’re demanding help from the government and threatening the unthinkable — to turn off their ovens.

A bakers’ rebellion looms in France to defend baguettes