Climate Threat Global Challenges

Less than Half of China's Electricity Comes from Coal Power

For the first time ever, coal power accounts for less than half of China's electricity production, writes Bloomberg.

During the first six months of the year, the share was 49.7 percent. Renewable energy has risen from 40 to 41.2 percent, while nuclear power and natural gas account for the rest.

China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but is clearly less dependent on coal than India.

Earth's renewable resources are expected to run out this year

Humanity has used up this year's renewable natural resources, according to calculations by the Global Footprint Network.

This year's Earth Overshoot Day – the day when humanity has exhausted the amount of resources that would have been sustainable – falls on July 30. Resource extraction is therefore 73 percent faster than the recovery of ecosystems.

– We consume as if we had almost two globes, says Karoline Andaur at WWF to Nettavisen.

Sweden had already exhausted its estimated quota on April 4. The worst is Qatar, which used up its ration on February 4.

In recent decades, Earth Overshoot Day has come earlier and earlier in the year. In the early 1970s, the global day only fell at the end of December.