RENEWABLE ENERGY

Milestone reached as renewables overtake fossil fuels as main source of UK power

New analysis from think tank Ember reveals how renewables generation outstripped that from gas and coal during 2020. A record 42% of the UK's electricity was generated by renewables in 2020, compared to 41% by fossil fuels, with the expansion of windfarms being one of the main reasons for the milestone. The best-performing sector is wind power, generating nearly a quarter of the UK’s electricity, doubling its 2015 share. By contrast, gas fell to a five-year low of 37% of the grid mix, while coal was kept at 2%. Renewables also overtook fossil fuels in the EU-27 in 2020, as well as separately in Germany and Spain. (The Guardian; Business Green)

LOBBYING

World's biggest tech firms 'dedicate just 4% of lobbying efforts to climate change'

Analysis of the lobbying activities of tech giants Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and Google's parent firm Alphabet has revealed that they allocated just 4% of their annual lobbying resources to efforts to combat climate change, despite ambitious in-house targets around climate. The advocacy group InfluenceMap assessed the companies’ reported information on US federal-level lobbying in the 2019-2020 financial year and found that only 6% of Facebook’s lobbying resources went towards promoting legislation designed to have a positive impact on emissions. The proportion for Microsoft and Amazon was 5%, while Alphabet and Apple allocated just 3% and 2% of their respective resources. In contrast, InfluenceMap’s analysis of high-carbon sectors found that large oil companies in the US collectively deployed 38% of their lobbying resources on climate issues in 2019-20. (Edie)

ENERGY 

GM aims to end petrol and diesel sales by 2035

General Motors (GM) aims to stop selling petrol or diesel vehicles by 2035, the first of the world’s biggest carmakers to set a deadline for its final sales of passenger vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. As part of a plan to become carbon neutral by 2040, it will sell all its new cars, SUVs and light pickup trucks with zero tailpipe emissions. Tailpipe emissions currently account for 75% of the company’s carbon impact. While other carmakers have set dates for ending the sale of traditional engines, most will switch to hybrid technology, which combine a smaller petrol or diesel engine with a battery. GM will also invest $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles over the next five years and plans to launch 30 battery-only models worldwide before 2025. (Reuters; Financial Times*)

COLLABORATION

PepsiCo and Beyond Meat to collaborate on plant-based snacks

Snack and beverage multinational PepsiCo has announced plans to work with alternative meat company Beyond Meat to develop and sell snacks and drinks made from plant-based protein. The deal marks the latest endorsement of the booming plant-based food sector by a major food player. The partnership will give Beyond Meat access to the beverage giant’s distribution and marketing resources, and allow it to expand into new product lines, with the aim of meeting rapidly growing consumer demand for sustainable alternatives to traditional food products. The joint venture will initially be focused on the US, yet could involve a future expansion into China and the UK. PepsiCo is also on a mission to reduce the carbon emitted at its operations and invest in regenerative agriculture techniques. (Business Green; Reuters)

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Depop targets climate neutrality by the end of the year

Marketplace app Depop has pledged to compensate for its entire climate footprint by the end of 2021 and to do more to prevent waste. The company has committed to extending its carbon accounting to get a better idea of its true climate footprint. It will then work to reduce emissions from any carbon hotspots, while purchasing carbon credits equivalent to its footprint. Depop has also pledged to facilitate educational resources and mentorships for sellers from under-represented groups, and to take a “systematic preference” in collaboration agreements for brands with strong circular economy credentials and responsible sourcing processes, such as Selfridges, Vans, Anna Sui and Raeburn. Depop plans to fully align its strategy with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and report progress against this framework’s targets.  (Edie)

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