Energy

Offices of energy company Equinor photographed in Norway on February 6, 2019. Odin Jaeger | Bloomberg | Getty Images Norway’s Equinor has been awarded a major contract to provide renewable energy to New York state from two huge offshore wind farms located in waters off the East Coast. In an announcement Wednesday, the firm said

For the last two decades, the European Union has played a leadership role in tackling the risks hazardous chemicals pose to our health and environment. It has now proposed a new vision for a “toxic-free environment” and published a strategy for moving the EU towards that goal. Just as its current policies have inspired imitation,

Workers take down a Belt and Road Forum panel outside the venue of the forum in Beijing on April 27, 2019. Greg Baker | AFP | Getty Images SINGAPORE — U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s pledge to prioritize fighting climate change could turn up the pressure on China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative — which has

The big stories of 2020 were not just about a pandemic, a reckoning on racial justice, an economic calamity and the ever-imminent rise of climate change impacts. If a crisis is the ultimate test of leadership, last year provided ample narratives about leaders stepping up. These 20 C-suite executives have steered their companies forward through

Last year’s worst is now this year’s best. Energy is the top-performing sector now, up nearly 15% since Jan. 1 amid falling U.S. crude oil inventories. The group suffered a horrible 2020, losing over 37%. Though energy’s long-term outlook is dimming, the sector isn’t void of opportunity, Mark Tepper, president and CEO of Strategic Wealth

For the first time in its 54-year history, the world’s largest tech show — the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) — kicked off this week as an all-virtual event, cramming a week of keynotes, press conferences and over 1,000 exhibitor booths onto the screens of our laptops and from the comfort of our homes.  As a

General Motors plans to launch a new all-electric van called the EV600 by the end of this year. The first 500 vehicles will be sold to FedEx. GM General Motors said Tuesday it plans to launch an all-electric van called the EV600 this year. The van – part of GM’s plan to invest $27 billion

Despite being in a global pandemic, essential low-wage workers, healthcare providers, knowledge workers and many others have continued to work. However, since the start of lockdowns in March 2020, some 42 percent of the U.S. workforce has been from working home full-time. The continued progression of COVID-19 has required many businesses to postpone their back-to-the-office dates

One of the biggest stories of 2020 was the rise of the corporate tree-planting movement, with dozens of multinational businesses from virtually every industry pledging millions of dollars to one of nature’s most effective carbon sequestration solutions.  Now, NGOs and investors are urging consumer goods and food companies and financial institutions to devote more resources

LafargeHolcim’s logo displayed at its offices in Switzerland, September 2019. Stefan Wermuth | Bloomberg | Getty Images Cement maker LafargeHolcim has agreed to buy specialist roofing company Firestone Building Products for $3.4 billion, in the latest example of shifting priorities within the building industry. In a statement issued last week, LafargeHolcim — which is the

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures, the U.S. oil benchmark, broke above $50 on Tuesday for the first time since February. The move higher marks a steady comeback for oil prices after the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent demand loss sent futures prices tumbling, and briefly into negative territory last April. WTI last traded $2.23, or

For companies with sustainable packaging goals, 2025 is fast approaching. That’s the year when many have pledged to become zero waste, or to use 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging. But COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in those plans, with single-use packaging skyrocketing, low fossil fuel prices and disrupted recycling systems, already weakened by

The end of the Gulf dispute is a win for the region, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister told CNBC after announcing that relations between Qatar and four Arab countries have been fully restored. Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Egypt on Tuesday signed an agreement that aims to strengthen unity and cohesion. The deal came

Remember when Flint, Michigan garnered international attention because water in the city was making people sick? Well, there are communities like that around the country and the world. And while Flint gained attention because of its failing infrastructure, there are places where water and sewage infrastructure is absent. “Too many Americans live without any affordable

This photo, from June 2020, shows a Tesla Model 3 parked up and charging in central London. William Barton | iStock Editorial | Getty Images New car sales in the U.K. slumped by almost 30% in 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic and the enforced shuttering of showrooms hitting demand. Figures released on Wednesday by the

One of the most exciting things about food and ag right now is the potential for change. The industry’s environmental problems — waste, greenhouse gases, biodiversity loss — are real. But so are the solutions. Multiple studies have shown that new farming techniques, low-carbon foods and other advances can create a radically more sustainable food

The CEO of Daimler emphasized the importance of low-emission technologies and innovation on Friday, telling CNBC that the automotive industry was “in the middle of a transformation.” “Next to the things that we know well — to build, frankly, the world’s most desirable cars — there are two technological trends that we’re doubling down on:

Week in Review Stories discussed this week (5:35). Features ‘The right to flush and forget’ (16:15)  Outtakes from this week’s interview with Catherine Coleman Flowers, who has dedicated her career and voice to the lack of water and sanitation infrastructure in rural American communities.  2021 reflections from sustainability leaders (22″45)  We feature the voices of our vibrant

Plug Power CEO Andrew Marsh on Thursday applauded the Democratic sweep of the Georgia Senate runoffs earlier this week, expressing an optimistic outlook for the future of green energy. Marsh, who has led the Latham, New York-based hydrogen fuel cell producer since 2008, in an appearance on CNBC welcomed the news that Democrats Raphael Warnock

The world is changing, and it’s changing fast. More companies are committing to emissions reductions but still struggle to measure and verify the impact from corporate headquarters to global operations to supply chains. Now, new breakthrough climate accounting technologies are emerging as solutions to track and verify energy and carbon emissions, and report energy purchases

This image shows Bombora’s mWave tech co-located and integrated with floating wind turbines. Bombora Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) is to partner with a company specializing in marine energy to scope for potential project sites in Japan and surrounding regions.     The collaboration between the Tokyo-headquartered shipping giant and a firm called Bombora Wave Power will center

When the pandemic exposed major issues with our lengthy food supply chain — in the form of shipment delays and inadequate demand forecasting — local vertical farms and indoor growing operations (aka controlled environment greenhouses in urban or rural locations) were called upon to fill in the gaps in a way that was unprecedented. With 2020

Oil markets are in for more struggles this year despite a more than 5% boost to prices this week on news from OPEC+. The oil producer group, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, announced that members would keep production largely steady rather than raising it, with Riyadh later revealing voluntary cuts of an extra 1

When the pandemic exposed major issues with our lengthy food supply chain — in the form of shipment delays and inadequate demand forecasting — local vertical farms and indoor growing organizations were called upon to fill in the gaps in a way that was unprecedented. With 2020 in the history books and hopes for an

Journalists watch the screen as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, ahead of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council summit in the city of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 5, 2021. Fayez Nureldine | AFP | Getty Images Saudi Arabia has reinstated diplomatic relations with Qatar,

Jane Jacobs, in her seminal 1961 work on urbanism, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” noted that what cities need above all else is “a constant succession of eyes”: Wherever the old city is working successfully is a marvelous order for maintaining the safety of the streets and the freedom of the city.

The facility is located in Cornwall, a county in the southwest of England. Geothermal Engineering Ltd Energy firm Ecotricity has signed a ten-year deal for electricity which will be produced by a British geothermal power plant, representing another step forward for the country’s fledgling industry.    The company’s power purchase agreement with Geothermal Engineering Limited

Last year, a number of automakers announced or advanced ambitious plans to electrify heavy-duty big rigs, semi-trucks, box trucks, delivery vans and more. That article was one of GreenBiz’s most popular stories throughout the year. And the demand and interest in this technology is only growing stronger. Given that trucks consume the vast majority of

Last year around this time, I focused on digital technology solutions for water with this essay, “2019: The Year Analog Solutions Died.” I stand by this perspective, as the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated interest and adoption of digital technologies across the water value chain. However, I wanted to share six new learnings from this pandemic

At GreenBiz, we’ve been reporting on the world of sustainable business for over two decades, but this year has been unlike any other. From an unprecedented pandemic to a global economic downturn to the intensifying impacts of climate change, we can’t say we’ll miss 2020. But there were many valuable lessons learned over the past

Editor’s note: Back by popular demand, smart cities consultant Sue Lebeck provides GreenBiz highlights from the past year in verse. You’ll find her haiku from 2019 here. Rise before the Surprise Leaders gather forthe first and last time in yearof shelter-in-place. Learning on the JobCould ways to flattencoronavirus’ curve helpbend climate’s curve too? From Farms to

It was a very long year. True, just 366 days (it was a leap year, after all), each one, I’m told, containing only the standard 24 hours. But it was much, much longer than that. Remember 2019? Neither do I. To recall some of the key developments, as I have done each December for more

It seems like every tech company is trying to sell their products as environmentally responsible. That’s why Apple claims its latest iPhone 12 line comes without a charging block in the box, for example. But that hasn’t stopped tech companies from coming out with a host of new phones every year, and the old models

The contraption Matt Sheffer wants to show me sits at the far end of a field of alfalfa and grasses, a weave of green and pale gold, broken only by the parallel grooves we’re trudging along, a path carved by the tires of a pickup truck. It’s Nov. 4, and America is in the midst

Date/Time: January 21, 2021        (1-2PM ET / 10-11AM PT) With a steady parade of corporate carbon net-zero pledges released in 2020 and even more coming in 2021, there is an enormous demand for forest carbon credits. This is empowering local and global actors to drive climate impact and opens the door for

When you think of Colgate-Palmolive, the first thing likely to come to mind is its eponymous toothpaste or dish soap. But the company also owns a lot of other brands that offer other consumer packaged goods such as deodorant (Speed Stick), body soap (Irish Spring) and other household cleaning products (Fabuloso). And what are those

Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images The coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress toughens rules around use of a common heat-trapping chemical and funnels billions of dollars into renewable energy. The measures, attached to a year-end government funding bill, were hailed by some lawmakers as among the most significant Congress has approved to combat climate

Ever wondered which sports team has the most sustainable fans? From the perspective of a rights holder, this is becoming a critical question. The answers will drive business decisions for venue operations, fan engagement and brand partnership activation. For the green sports movement, the answers may be the key to solidifying the importance of integrating

Date/Time: January 25, 2021 (1-2PM ET / 10-11AM PT) Following the challenging, turbulent year that was 2020, what is the state of sustainable business in 2021? Join us for the release of the 14th annual edition of State of Green Business, GreenBiz Group’s award-winning annual report. Each year, the report looks at key trends and

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, some American politicians continue to deny that climate change exists, while others question the severity of its impact. And among the general public, climate change denial is higher in the U.S. today than almost anywhere else in the world. This is largely the result of the oil and

As the year comes to a (welcome) close, it’s worth taking a moment to consider how the circular economy concept has emerged and evolved during this very particular year. Here are three trends that defined the circular economy in 2020, and what they might mean for the year to come.  1. Reuse is on the

Richard Browning, CEO of JetPack Aviation demonstrates his JBPack suit JetPack Aviation It takes visionaries like venture capitalist Tim Draper to reimagine the future of transportation and back ideas many consider futuristic pipe dreams. But this renown Silicon Valley venture capitalist who was an early investor in Elon Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX ventures has a

Investors are increasingly interested in companies that are environmentally and socially conscious, and the world’s largest asset manager is no exception. In an annual letter to CEOs earlier this year, BlackRock Chairman and CEO Larry Fink said “climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects … But awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe

A recent announcement by Europe’s largest iron ore producer, LKAB, may seem like a technical detail only relevant for metallurgists and steel nerds. However, the company’s plan to invest up to $46 billion over the next 15–20 years to expand into an emissions-free iron process being piloted in Northern Sweden is big news for Sweden, the

Canoo’s van – known as a multipurpose delivery vehicle, or MPDV, because of the ways it can be upfitted – is designed for commercial customers. Canoo Electric vehicle start-up Canoo unveiled a new delivery van Thursday ahead of its public debut on the NASDAQ next week. The futuristic-looking van – known as a multi-purpose delivery

Last week, I unpacked three hype-worthy trends shaping our food systems. Now I want to shine a light on three behind-the-scenes forces that aren’t generating headlines but should be. Let’s drive straight in. 1. Our two-tier food system The story: Online marketplaces that connect consumers with small-scale producers have boomed during the pandemic. Membership at

GE Renewable Energy General Electric’s renewable energy division has been chosen as the preferred turbine supplier for the third and final phase of an offshore wind farm that’s set to be the largest on the planet. According to an announcement from SSE Renewables on Friday, a 14 megawatt (MW) version of GE’s huge Haliade-X turbine

Week in Review Stories discussed this week (3:45). Features The road ahead for sustainable transportation (21:40)  Katie Fehrenbacher, senior writer and transportation analyst for GreenBiz, reflects 10 key trends from 2020 that will — or should — shape priorities in the 12 months ahead. Among them: bridge fuels to zero-emissions fleets; the public transit crisis;