Hello and welcome back to our weekly climate newsletter. 

For the first time on record, renewable energies combined generated more power than coal, according to a new analysis published this week. 

Global solar generation grew by a record 31 per cent in the first half of the year, while wind generation grew by 7.7 per cent, according to the report by the energy think tank Ember.

Solar and wind generation combined grew by more than 400 terawatt hours, which was more than the overall global demand increased in the same period, it found.

At the same time, total fossil fuel generation dropped slightly, by less than 1 per cent. 

The findings suggest it is possible for the world to wean off polluting sources of power — even as demand for electricity skyrockets — with continued investment in renewables including solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy and geothermal energies.

Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember, said: “We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point.

“Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity.

Also, The Independent has hosted its second annual Climate 100 event, recognising the environmentalists who are leading the fight against the climate crisis.

Watch an inside look at the event.

Solar and wind power has grown faster than electricity demand this year, report says (AP)

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CLIMATE IN NUMBERS

8.3%

Number of days over 35C in 43 major world cities in last three decades (IIED)

That's last month food inflation in Kenya as prices continue

to rise due to the climate crisis

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