Who would have thought: there is still some good news when it comes to the climate. In the first half of this year, for the first time, more electricity was generated from renewable energies than from coal. 

This is shown in a new study by the think tank Ember, which looked at the electricity consumption of 88 countries. Renewables account for 34.3 % of the global electricity mix, while coal’s share has fallen to 33.1 %.

Experts believe that this trend will continue. That sounds logical, because the world’s coal reserves will eventually run out, while wind and solar energy will always be available. The biggest driver of this energy transition? China – the country is responsible for more than half of the increase in renewable energies.

UN High Seas Treaty

International cooperation has scored another victory: Negotiations on the UN High Seas Treaty lasted 20 years. After 59 of the 60 countries required had long since signed up, ratification by Morocco and Sierra Leone in September finally enabled the treaty to come into force. 

The treaty governs the protection of the high seas, which lie beyond national exclusive economic zones and account for around two thirds of the world’s oceans. It enables the parties to designate marine protected areas on the high seas, where harmful activities such as fishing, resource extraction or shipping can be restricted. Although the treaty is legally binding only for its parties, it establishes globally recognised standards for the protection of the high seas for the first time and generates political, economic and normative pressure, including on states that remain outside the agreement.

We regularly update you on more positive developments in our Good News section.

The D+C editorial team
euz.editor@dandc.eu