Environment > China's Solar Program - some good news, and some bad news

 

China sets new solar record – data

May installations jumped fourfold year-on-year amid looming policy and trade pressures, according to official data

©  Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

China set a new record for monthly installed solar power capacity in May, according to official data.

The National Energy Administration reported on Monday that China installed 93 gigawatts of solar panels in May – more than any other country did over the whole of 2024, according to Bloomberg. The figure is more than quadruple the capacity added during the same month last year and surpasses the previous monthly high of 71 gigawatts set last December.

The surge comes as developers rush to complete projects ahead of new regulatory changes that are expected to significantly reduce renewable energy prices.

May’s record followed strong installations in April, bringing China’s total solar additions for the first five months of the year to 198 gigawatts (GW) – averaging more than 1GW per day.

China typically sees a spike in solar installations in December, but developers accelerated activity this year ahead of anticipated policy changes. A regulation that took effect on May 1 made it more difficult to connect rooftop solar systems to the grid, while another policy starting June 1 removed pricing protections that had previously ensured profits for solar projects.

READ MORE: US slaps tariffs of up to 3,521% on China-linked solar imports

Analysts expect the new policies to moderate the pace of installations over the summer which would increase pressure on Chinese solar manufacturers, who have been grappling with overcapacity and falling prices for more than a year.

All major Chinese solar equipment firms posted losses in the first quarter of 2025, citing weak prices and rising trade tensions following the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House.

Trump imposed broad tariffs on imports from over 90 countries, including China, in early April. Beijing retaliated, leading Trump to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, while China responded with duties of up to 125% on US products.

The two sides reached a tentative truce in Geneva on May 12, agreeing to a 90-day pause on further hikes and to maintain a 10% baseline tariff. However, tensions resurfaced earlier this month amid mutual accusations of violating the deal.

Earlier, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association called for urgent consolidation in the sector, warning that unchecked expansion and price wars were driving the industry into a “race to the bottom.”

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Environmentalism > Easter Island - Drowning in Rubbish; Queen of Trash in Stockholm court; Greta arrested for antisemitic protest; Volvo cuts back on EV expectations

 

Drowning in rubbish: Easter Island leads the fight against plastic pollution

Issued on: 04/09/2024 - 11:34

By:Guillaume GOSALBES|Juliette CHAIGNON|Josh VARDEY

Located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, more than 3,600 kilometres off the coast of Chile, Easter Island is best known for its Moai statues. These ancient megalithic figures bear witness to the transformation of the island, which is becoming increasingly polluted by plastic waste.

According to researchers, around 4.5 million items of rubbish wash up on the island’s shores every year – carried by maritime currents or dumped by industrial fishing boats. 

To solve the problem and clean up its coastline, the island is seeking to lead the fight against plastic pollution in the region while raising awareness among its inhabitants.

'Queen of Trash' in dock in Sweden's

biggest toxic waste scandal

Eleven people went on trial in Sweden on Tuesday, accused of illegally dumping toxic waste in the country's biggest-ever environmental crime case. 

Among those charged with "aggravated environmental crime" is Bella Nilsson, an ex-stripper who once called herself the "Queen of Trash".

One of the world's most recognizable environmentalists seems to have branched out her antiestablishmentarianism into antisemitism

Greta Thunberg arrested at pro-Palestinian protest in Denmark

Police on Wednesday arrested a group of pro-Palestinian students including the 21-year-old activist Greta Thunberg who had occupied a building at the University of Copenhagen to protest what they said was the university's continued "cooperation with academic institutions in Israel”.

By:NEWS WIRES

Greta Thunberg and a group of activists were arrested on Wednesday after occupying a University of Copenhagen building to call for an academic boycott of Israeli universities, Danish media reported.

Images on daily Ekstrabladet showed the 21-year-old climate activist, wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh shawl draped over her shoulders, being escorted out of a campus building by police.

Thunberg meanwhile shared images on Instagram of riot police entering a building where the group “Students against the Occupation” were staging a protest.

“I can’t confirm the names of those arrested, but six people have been arrested in connection with the demonstration,” a Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP.

“They are suspected of forcing their way into the building and blocking the entrance,” he said.

The Students against the Occupation said in a statement posted on Instagram that “while the situation in Palestine only gets worse, the University of Copenhagen continues cooperation with academic institutions in Israel.”

“We are occupying” the university’s “central administration with one demand: academic boycott now.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters have set up encampments at universities around the United States and Europe since last spring to protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and occupation of Palestinian territories.

(AFP)

Volvo scraps plan for fully electric fleet by 2030,

citing market conditions, demand

Volvo announced Wednesday it won't have a fully electric fleet of vehicles by 2030 as it had planned to do,

citing a slower than expected EV charging infrastructure rollout and market conditions, including demand,

as reasons for the adjustment. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Volvo said Wednesday it no longer plans to have a fully electric fleet of vehicles by 2030.

The Swedish automaker announced the decision in a statement saying it now aims for 90% to 100% of its global sales volume within the same timeframe to consist of "electrified cars" which it identified as "in essence, all cars with a cord" including both fully electric and plug-in hybrid models.

"The remaining 0-10% will allow for a limited number of mild hybrid models to be sold, if needed," Volvo said.

Volvo said there has been a slower-than-expected rollout of EV charging infrastructure combined with the withdrawal of government incentives in some markets and uncertainties caused by tariffs in some markets.

Like the 100% tarriff on Chinese EVs in Canada and the USA?

Volvo said it has five fully electric cars now and another five models in development.

"While Volvo Cars will retain its position as an industry leader in electrification, it has now decided to adjust its electrification ambitions due to changing market conditions and customer demands," the Volvo statement said.

By 2040, Volvo said, it expects to reach net zero greenhouse emissions.

Hopefully, by then the world will realize that anthropogenic carbon dioxide production is not 100% responsible for global warming.

"We are resolute in our belief that our future is electric," said Volvo CEO Jim Rowan. "An electric car provides a superior driving experience and increases possibilities for using advanced technologies that improve the overall customer experience.

"However, it is clear that the transition to electrification will not be linear, and customers and markets are moving at different speeds of adoption. We are pragmatic and flexible, while retaining an industry-leading position on electrification and sustainability."

In 2021 the company declared all of its vehicles would be fully electric by 2030 and also sold exclusively online.

At that time Volvo said by 2025 EVs would comprise 50% of its global sales with the other half being hybrids.

Volvo said Wednesday by 2025 it expects 50% to 60% of its vehicles to be electrified and "well before the end of this decade" Volvo will have a complete lineup of fully electric cars available.

As for carbon dioxide emissions, Volvo said it "aims to have reduced CO2 emissions per car by 65%-75% compared to a 2018 baseline, an adjustment of the previous 75% reduction ambition."

Volvo's current five electric models include the EX40, the EC40, the EX30, the EM90 and the EX90.

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PeterSweden

@PeterSweden7

The new right-wing government in Sweden SCRAPPING climate tax on flying. Scrapped Agenda 2030 global goals from government directives. Scrapped climate taxes on fuel. Going against the cashless agenda. Has achieved net EMIGRATION for the first time in many decades.

7:11 AM · Sep 4, 2024

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110.3K

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Earth Convulsions > EU authorizes Glyphosate for 10 more years; Fed Court bans plastic bans in Canada

 

EU commission to prolong use of controversial

herbicide glyphosate for 10 years

The European Union will extend glyphosate’s authorisation for 10 years, even though its member states failed to agree over the active ingredient in Bayer AG’s Roundup weedkiller.

By:NEWS WIRES

Glyphosate has proved divisive since the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency concluded in 2015 that it was probably carcinogenic to humans. Other agencies around the world, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EU agencies, have classified it as non-carcinogenic.

The European Commission said on Thursday it would renew glyphosate’s approval based on European Food Agency and European Chemicals Agency safety assessments and subject to new conditions and restrictions, such as maximum application rates.

Bayer welcomed the EU executive’s decision, which was condemned by environmental groups including Greenpeace.

“This reauthorisation allows us to continue to provide important integrated weed management technology to farmers across the European Union,” Bayer said in a statement.

The German company, which acquired Roundup through its $63 billion purchase of Monsanto in 2018, faces thousands of cancer lawsuits from plaintiffs across the United States.

Glyphosate has been widely used for decades by farmers and in other uses such as to clear weeds from railway lines.

The Commission had proposed extending authorisation by 10 years and sought approval from the EU’s 27 member countries.

A more substantial “qualified majority” had been required either to support of block the proposal, but on Thursday and a month ago, the voting did not clear this hurdle.

Under EU rules, the Commission had to take a decision on authorisation which was due to expire on Dec. 15.

French pro-environmental farming group Confederation Paysanne called the decision and the approval process “scandalous”. France was among a number of countries to abstain.

Greenpeace said it was outraged by the decision, which was contrary to numerous opinions of scientists on glyphosate’s probable negative effects on human health and the environment.

Agriculture without glyphosate was possible, it said, and public policies should help farmers to phase it out. Farming group Copa and Cogeca said there was no equivalent alternative.

Individual EU countries will remain responsible for authorising plant protection products containing glyphosate.

(Reuters)

The Federal Court just overturned Ottawa’s

single-use plastic ban

The Federal Court overturned Canada’s ban on single-use plastic on Thursday, deeming the policy “unreasonable and unconstitutional.”

The decision found that the classification of plastics in the cabinet order was too broad to be listed on the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 and the government acted outside of its authority.

“There is no reasonable apprehension that all listed Plastic Manufactured Items are harmful,” the decision read.

The decision has essentially quashed a cabinet order that listed plastic manufactured items, such as plastic bags, straws, and takeout containers, as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a statement that the federal government is “strongly considering an appeal” of the decision.

“Canadians have been loud and clear that they want action to keep plastic out of our environment,” he said. “We will have more to say on next steps soon.”

The decision has implications for the government’s ban on six single-use plastic items. The government is only able to regulate substances for environmental protection if they are listed as toxic under CEPA.

The decision found that it was not reasonable to say all plastic manufactured items are harmful because the category is too broad.

The regulations banning plastic items are already being phased in, with a ban on manufacturing and importing six different categories already in place, and a full ban on their sale and export planned by the end of 2025.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a statement that the decision “demonstrates a continued pattern of federal overreach intended to subvert the constitutionally protected role and rights of provinces,” and that the ban has had “wide-ranging consequences for Alberta’s economic interests.” She said the ban has put thousands of jobs and billions of investments at risk.

“Alberta is proudly home to Canada’s largest petrochemical sector, a sector with more than $18 billion in recently announced projects that were needlessly put in jeopardy by a virtue-signalling federal government with no respect for the division of powers outlined in the Canadian Constitution,” she said. She urges the federal government not to appeal the decision.

The case was brought by the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition and several chemical companies that manufacture plastics.

— with files from the Canadian Press.

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