Global coal consumption smashed previous records in 2024, hitting an unprecedented 8.77 billion tonnes despite significant gains in renewable energy worldwide. This record, confirmed by the International Energy Agency (IEA), resulted from surging electricity demand, especially from emerging economies such as China and India, which faced exceptional heatwaves necessitating mass cooling. The absolute amount of coal burned rose sharply, even as its share of the global energy mix diminished—from 37% in 2019 to 34% in 2024—highlighting the immense challenge in limiting its use despite clean energy expansion.

Britain has achieved a historic milestone in the third quarter of 2025, as renewable energy generation soared to a record 31.9 terawatt hours (TWh), driven predominantly by exceptional wind and solar power output. For the first time in a Q3 period, renewables supplied 51% of Britain's electricity demand, overtaking all fossil-fuelled sources combined and confirming the country's status as a leader in the global clean power transition.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has unveiled disturbing evidence in its latest greenhouse gas bulletin that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached unprecedented heights in 2024, jumping by the largest single-year increase since modern measurements began in 1957. The global average concentration of CO2 surged by 3.5 parts per million (ppm) between 2023 and 2024, with atmospheric levels now standing at 423.9 ppm—a staggering 52% increase above pre-industrial levels.

The world witnessed unprecedented growth in renewable energy over the last two years, with 2024 setting a global record for new installations. A staggering 582 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable capacity was added worldwide in 2024—a 15.1% increase from the previous year—propelled by a surge in solar photovoltaics and expanding offshore wind farms. Investment followed suit, with clean energy set to attract $2.2 trillion in 2025—twice as much as fossil fuels.

Hydrogen blending involves mixing green hydrogen with traditional natural gas and using this combination to generate electricity for the national power grid. The UK's first real-world hydrogen blending trial, carried out in October 2025, represents a significant advancement towards decarbonising the country's energy infrastructure. By introducing green hydrogen into the existing gas grid, the process demonstrates how legacy energy systems can be adapted for a low-carbon future without major new investment.

The UK has been told to urgently prepare its homes, offices and public buildings for a world that is at least 2°C warmer, as the Climate Change Committee (CCC) warns that current adaptation efforts are dangerously inadequate. In a report published in October 2025, the CCC said the nation is "not equipped" to cope with the extremes of heat, flooding, drought, and wildfire already being seen today—let alone what's to come if global temperatures rise past 2°C by mid-century.

Scientists in Sydney have broken the global efficiency record for a new type of solar panel, marking a turning point in renewable energy with technology poised to reshape the solar industry and accelerate the clean energy transition. Their innovative triple-junction perovskite-perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells not only deliver unprecedented conversion efficiencies but also offer enhanced durability and real-world scalability.

Manchester City Council has unveiled an ambitious new climate action plan for the period 2025-2030, setting a benchmark for sustainability in the region and mapping out a future that puts the environment, community resilience, and clean energy at its heart. This five-year climate strategy is a critical pathway for Manchester to reach its broader target of becoming a zero carbon city by 2038, twelve years ahead of the UK's national deadline. Businesses, residents, and stakeholders in Manchester must understand how these initiatives will transform energy use, urban infrastructure, and the overall economic landscape as decarbonisation accelerates.

Global renewable energy generation has surged past coal for the first time in history, marking a fundamental turning point in the world’s energy mix and a resounding milestone for decarbonisation efforts. Renewable sources, led by solar and wind, are now meeting the world's growing appetite for electricity, reshaping how nations power homes, businesses, and industry in every corner of the globe.