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Have you ever had an imaginary conversation with an animal? I definitely did with the dog and some of the chickens we had growing up. Sadly, they were never able to answer me and I could never know how they truly felt. Today we looked at how good scientists are at decoding what animals are saying.
Carla Allenbach
Editor-in-chief
The United Kingdom ・ Environment
This is a big title for this story
For the first year in more than a century, Britain will produce no coal in 2025. The UK phased out coal power, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, last September – becoming the only G7 country to have achieved this landmark so far.
As a result, the UK's electricity supply recorded its cleanest year ever in 2024. Carbon intensity per kilowatt hour fell by more than two-thirds compared to a decade ago, and renewables made up 45% of total electricity, following similar progress in the EU.
But the UK has a long, dirty history with coal. Industrialisation in Britain was driven by the fossil fuel, which later became the main source of electricity. Since opening the world's first coal-fired power plant in 1882, the UK has burned 4.6 billion tonnes of coal – emitting more CO2 than most countries have from all energy sources.
Britain's phaseout began with boosting alternative energy sources while ending the construction of new coal plants. Regulation then started pricing externalities such as pollution and emissions into production, making alternatives more viable. Finally, the UK government announced a phaseout timeline ten years ahead, allowing a period to adjust.
Danny Callaghan
Gas began replacing coal in the UK during the 1990s, before a hike in renewables from 2010 onwards has made wind the cheapest energy source. Today, wind turbines produce nearly a third of Britain's electricity.
Many countries in Europe have made progress towards phasing out coal. Belgium, Austria, and Portugal have all closed coal power plants. Spain and Ireland are expected to end production this year. Yet some of Europe's largest economies continue to rely on coal-powered energy – with Germany aiming to phase out coal as late as 2038. Poland, the EU’s second-largest coal consumer after Germany, has not committed to a target date.
Today, in our magazine
I met with scientists who promised that they are are to speak with pigs. And I wanted to find out what they are talking about.
Carla Allenbach
researching EU migration politics
I met with scientists who promised that they are are to speak with pigs. And I wanted to find out what they are talking about.
Carla Allenbach
researching EU migration politics
This is a big title for this story
And here follows a lead that is very interesting, but also captivating. And at the end it makes a promise. And now it ends with a question, that I always wanted to ask.
Julius E. O. Fintelmann | 28 January 2025
We would love to know if you haver ever done X. Would you share your own experiences?
What others said
The United Kingdom ・ Environment
This is a big title for this story
For the first year in more than a century, Britain will produce no coal in 2025. The UK phased out coal power, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, last September – becoming the only G7 country to have achieved this landmark so far.
As a result, the UK's electricity supply recorded its cleanest year ever in 2024. Carbon intensity per kilowatt hour fell by more than two-thirds compared to a decade ago, and renewables made up 45% of total electricity, following similar progress in the EU.
But the UK has a long, dirty history with coal. Industrialisation in Britain was driven by the fossil fuel, which later became the main source of electricity. Since opening the world's first coal-fired power plant in 1882, the UK has burned 4.6 billion tonnes of coal – emitting more CO2 than most countries have from all energy sources.
Britain's phaseout began with boosting alternative energy sources while ending the construction of new coal plants. Regulation then started pricing externalities such as pollution and emissions into production, making alternatives more viable. Finally, the UK government announced a phaseout timeline ten years ahead, allowing a period to adjust.
Danny Callaghan
Gas began replacing coal in the UK during the 1990s, before a hike in renewables from 2010 onwards has made wind the cheapest energy source. Today, wind turbines produce nearly a third of Britain's electricity.
Many countries in Europe have made progress towards phasing out coal. Belgium, Austria, and Portugal have all closed coal power plants. Spain and Ireland are expected to end production this year. Yet some of Europe's largest economies continue to rely on coal-powered energy – with Germany aiming to phase out coal as late as 2038. Poland, the EU’s second-largest coal consumer after Germany, has not committed to a target date.
We would love to know if you haver ever done X. Would you share your own experiences?