Pat Simons

Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time Record solar expansion and steady wind growth driving world’s shift away from fossil fuels in 2025, report finds

Number 2:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Global CO2 emissions plateau Global CO2 emissions from the power sector fell marginally by 12 MtCO2 (-0.2%) to 6,963 MtCO2 in the first half of 2025. The decline was possible because solar and wind power exceeded demand growth and led to a slight fall in fossil fuel use. Without solar and wind growth, emissions would have risen by an estimated 236 MtCO2 (+3.9%) globally, which is equivalent to almost all emissions (251 MtCO2) from Africa in H1-2025. At the country level, there was significant variation. Among the four economies that account for the majority of global emissions (64%), emissions fell in China (-46 MtCO2, -1.7%) and India (-24 MtCO2, -3.6%), as clean electricity outpaced growth in demand in those countries. In contrast, emissions rose in the EU (+13 MtCO2, +4.8%), where strong growth in solar was outweighed by shortfalls in wind, hydro and bioenergy, leading to higher gas and coal generation. Emissions also rose in the US (+33 MtCO2, +4.3%), as clean electricity growth was smaller than demand growth, leading to an increase in coal generation, which was exacerbated by gas-to-coal switching.

A complete flip of the usual pattern we see in these updates - China's and India's emissions fell, and EU and US emissions increased.....

ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

@ember-energy.org

'Rain Holy hell fire': MAGA accounts bombarded judge with threats before her house burned The South Carolina state judge whose house burned to the ground under suspicious circumstances was an explicit target of hate and threats by President Donald Trump's supporters in the days before, The Daily Beast reported on Monday.Judge Diane Goodstein, who sits on a state circuit court, had tempor...

The South Carolina state judge whose house burned to the ground under suspicious circumstances was an explicit target of hate and threats by President Donald Trump's supporters in the days before, The Daily Beast reported on Monday.

Thirst for energy undermines effort to pull back from coal A steady rise in the demand for electricity is slowing the decline of coal-fired power, even as wind and solar generation hits new highs.

Black coal up from Q3 2024 to Q3 2025

(Growth in demand partially offsetting growth on RE)

www.afr.com/policy/energ...

Scott Morrison says Trump deserves a Nobel prize if president’s Gaza peace plan works The former Australian PM describes the plan as an ‘absolute gamechanger’ as US officials arrive in Egypt for talks

Trump has a special ability to attract the most pitiful sycophants. Like flies to dung. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

The US is pursuing "energy dominance" and forcing allies to buy US oil and gas. And, yet, China is beating the US on energy exports.

Surprised? Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Over half of Australians support sanctions on Israel and its leaders for ongoing attacks on Gaza, poll shows Survey finds 57% of respondents agreed government should impose similar sanctions on Israel as those against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine

New poll shows majority of Australians support sanctioning Israel www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Blind man with a walking stick being led off by a police man in a yellow vest.

Two seniors in motorized wheelchairs and holding Palestine flags being loaded up into a police van by several agents.

Not sure you’ve seen these images here, but in the UK they’re arresting dangerous anti genocide protestors for “supporting terrorism”. You can sleep easier knowing these thugs are off the streets.

Not a single Greta hater could do what she has done, face what she's faced, bear abuse and humiliation at the hands of the most psychotic and genocidal army. They haven't an ounce of her bravery and that's what drives them crazy. Free Greta, free Palestine🇵🇸

Greta Thunberg says she is being detained by Israel in cell ‘infested with bedbugs’ Exclusive: Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water Environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg has told Swedish officials she is being subjected to harsh treatment in Israeli custody after her detention and removal from a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, according to correspondence seen by the Guardian. According to the correspondence, Israeli forces are also reported by another detainee to have taken photographs where Thunberg was allegedly forced to hold flags. The identity of the flags are unknown. Continue reading...

Greta Thunberg says she is being detained by Israel in cell ‘infested with bedbugs’

Asad Rehman’s journey from antiracism campaigner in Burnley to head of Friends of the Earth Climate crisis is ‘interconnected crisis of inequality’, says Rehman, who began organising at his school in the 1970s

“Now we need a new story, a story that connects climate & inequality, that tackles the far right by recognising we have millions of people who have been left behind. We’re being offered nothing but division & hatred. We have to provide an answer for them.'

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Political support for better buses in the west continues to grow. Big thanks to all the councillors, candidates and MLCs supporting the community's call #BetterBuses

Here in Werribee for Bus Fest! The western suburbs have been neglected for too long, that's why we're calling for better buses for the west. Lots of positive energy and support #BetterBuses @foe.org.au @ptua.bsky.social

A person holding a baby, looking at a bus at a stop

Tomorrow! Bus fest!
Stop by from 10am-1pm in Werribee to enjoy some live music and activities for the kids.
Share your story of using public transport in Melbourne's West. Show your support for a system of fast, frequent, and connected buses!
More details www.melbournefoe.org...

I don't follow it, but its true crime yet mundane enough to feel more shocking and relatable.

Andrew Hastie quits Coalition frontbench over immigration policy dispute Liberal MP resigns as shadow home affairs minister, increasing pressure on opposition leader Sussan Ley

Hastie is a cunning politician and it's risky to dismiss him as a crank because his views are racist. There's a good chance he will be Liberal party leader by the next election, and his white nationalism should ring alarm bells. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson will appeal against her convictions, court told Lawyers for Erin Patterson confirmed on Thursday that she would appeal against her convictions, after she was sentenced to life imprisonment last month

Do you hear that? It's the sound of media execs cracking the champagne for round 2 www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Butler warns about the rise of fascist, racist, homophobic, sexist behaviours and that we must work collectively not individually against this. “We must commit to saying what we want to see realised, and not just complain about what is going wrong.”

Amazing graph showing how quickly renewables can displace gas and reduce wholesale prices.

"In the first half of 2019, Spain’s power prices reflected the cost of fossil generation in 75% of hours – this dropped to just 19% in the same period in 2025"

Decoupled: how Spain cut the link between gas and power prices using renewables | Ember Spain has some of the lowest wholesale electricity prices in Europe, largely owing to the country’s strong solar and wind growth which reduced the influence of expensive coal and gas power on the elec...

Spain's wholesale electricity prices were 32% lower than the European average in the first half of 2025 -- thanks to wind and solar reducing the influence of costly fossil fuels on prices. ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

At least 29 Americans have sought asylum in Australia since second Trump presidency began Applications from US citizens make up less than 1% of monthly applications but have risen steadily since Trump’s inauguration

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Maritime union demands action on illegal interception of Sumud flotilla The Maritime Union of Australia is among many who are condemning Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and calling on Australia to act. Pip Hinman reports.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), among others, have condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and called on Australia to take action against Israel’s breach of international law. www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1439/ne...

China is likely to surpass its new emissions target. Australia should emulate its energy plan In an address to the UN General Assembly last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China’s target to reduce carbon emissions by 7-10% from their peak by 2035, with the goal of achieving even h...

China installed more than double the rest of the world's solar in 2025, and last year met its 2030 renewables goal six years early. Australia can learn from and emulate the speed and scale of its energy transition. Great piece on China's conservative emissions targets johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10...

Damn good to see. We could go further with offshore wind.

Shoalhaven Council under investigation over 'political' CEO appointment Many express concerns that new CEO Andrew Constance has no local government experience.

The plot thickens www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/908010...

Israel’s interception of the Gaza aid flotilla is a clear violation of international law

Flotilla organisers say the Israeli military boarded their ships in international waters, where they have the right to freedom of navigation.

Only one side in this climate change crisis The Government released the National Climate Risk Assessment, National Adaptation Plan, and emissions reduction targets, painting a stark picture of what lies ahead for Australian farming under climat...

"there’s nothing quite like having a conversation about climate change while you’re standing at the end of a hose in scorching heat"

Badgingarra farmer and former WA Farmers president Dale Park says culture war commentators don't reflect lived experience of farmers thewest.com.au/opinion/dale...

PR firms are spreading climate misinformation on behalf of fossil fuel companies. Could Australia stop them? This week, Australian policymakers heard about the real and growing problem of climate misinformation. Stopping it would mean regulating the PR industry.

PR firms are spreading disinformation about climate change on behalf of fossil fuel companies. Could Australia stop them? Great piece by @christiandownie.bsky.social in @aunz.theconversation.com theconversation.com/pr-firms-are...

🚨 The Sumud flotilla is under attack in international waters.

The violent Israeli response, of drone and the violent naval attack, on an aid flotilla in international waters confirms the brutal illegality of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.