COVID-19

Coronavirus ‘accelerating closure’ of ageing fossil-fuelled power plants

Windmills line a hillside in Palm Springs, California, U.S., November 29, 2019. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson - RC2BLD9OMVNG

The pandemic has helped boost renewable energy up the agenda. Image: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Josh Gabbatiss
Author, Carbon Brief
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Energy investment is set to fall by a fifth in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Image: IEA.
coronavirus pandemic covid 19 environment renewable solar energy change transition friendly environment carbon footprint carbon emissions reduction change natural climate change global warming air pollution clean energy power renewables plastic plastics Weather extreme storm hurricane typhoon flooding flood floods danger rain wind windy rainy flash floods Agriculture pollen insects bugs bees honeybees bumblebees farming farms crops crop stable
Coronavirus is already contributing to the retirement of some older power plants and facilities. Image: IEA
coronavirus pandemic covid 19 environment renewable solar energy change transition friendly environment carbon footprint carbon emissions reduction change natural climate change global warming air pollution clean energy power renewables plastic plastics Weather extreme storm hurricane typhoon flooding flood floods danger rain wind windy rainy flash floods Agriculture pollen insects bugs bees honeybees bumblebees farming farms crops crop stable
Breakdown of clean energy investment by sector. Image: IEA
coronavirus pandemic covid 19 environment renewable solar energy change transition friendly environment carbon footprint carbon emissions reduction change natural climate change global warming air pollution clean energy power renewables plastic plastics Weather extreme storm hurricane typhoon flooding flood floods danger rain wind windy rainy flash floods Agriculture pollen insects bugs bees honeybees bumblebees farming farms crops crop stable
Global investment in the power sector by technology. Image: IEA
coronavirus pandemic covid 19 environment renewable solar energy change transition friendly environment carbon footprint carbon emissions reduction change natural climate change global warming air pollution clean energy power renewables plastic plastics Weather extreme storm hurricane typhoon flooding flood floods danger rain wind windy rainy flash floods Agriculture pollen insects bugs bees honeybees bumblebees farming farms crops crop stable
Oil is expected to see the biggest decline in investment activity this year. Image: IEA
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