Global Temperature Headed for 2.7°C Increase

Global Temperature Increase Far from Thresholds

The new report from Climate Action Tracker (CAT) predicts that current policies point to a 2.7°C average temperature increase by the end of the century, slightly above last year’s prediction of 2.6°C. The 1.5°C threshold chosen in 2015 is bound to be overshot in the next few years. 

Surpassing the 1.5°C limit is expected to increase the probability of hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, landslides. Governments have postponed cutting emissions, so billions of people will suffer extreme climate impacts. Not including the US, nations are gathered in Antalya, Turkey for COP31 to address the crisis. According to the report, even in the most optimistic scenario the world would heat up by 1.9°C by 2100.

The report is similar to a recent one by the UN, which used previous CAT data. This should not lead to defeatism, according to CAT chief executive Bill Hare, because every increment of temperature will be significant, despite having exceeded the 1.5C limit. Carbon emissions should fall slightly this year and clean investment is double that of fossil fuels, so there is some optimism as governments face a crunch moment.

Japan Advised to Boost Clean-Tech Export

Global energy think tank Ember found Japan’s clean energy technology exports could double by 2035, supporting Asia’s electrification, but it urged the country’s government to let go of policies that support fossil fuels. Due to its solid engineering base and low borrowing costs, Japan could be a leader in clean energy technologies, but public money is going to cheap fuels and gas plants, according to Ember director Kingsmill Bond. 

Japan is the world’s fifth-largest exporter of clean-tech goods, totaling $44bn in 2024, fueled by EVs and grid technology. According to the International Energy Agency, electricity supplies 32% of the country’s final energy use, but its electrification rate has barely increased in the past decade. Despite its solar and wind potential, Japan imports almost all of the fuel it burns, since it has no reserves.

Ember reported that the Japanese government could leverage industrial strength for producing electric technologies by building up its domestic market. The think tank called on the country to set an electrification target and respond to the energy crisis with renewables.

China Signs Agreement for $15bn in Solar and Wind Power

China and Turkey signed a preliminary deal for China to invest $15bn in solar and wind power plants in Turkey, amounting to 7000MW capacity, said the Turkish minister of energy on Thursday. 

The national energy administrations of the two countries signed the memorandum of understanding on cooperation of renewable energy at the COP31 summit in Antalya, Turkey.

The minister also claimed that the countries aimed to develop new energy storage systems and electricity transmission infrastructure, for a total of 4000MW.

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RWE, KKR Secure £12bn for Offshore Wind Farm in UK

The German utility RWE and the US private equity firm KKR have agreed to a £12bn package to be invested in offshore wind projects in Britain, one of the biggest renewables investments in the UK and the largest ever for offshore wind in the country. Investment will support over 2,400 jobs during construction.

The investment includes equity commitments from both companies, financing from international leaders and £1bn from the UK National Wealth Fund. The Norfolk Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind farms are due to be fully commissioned in 2030. They are expected to support around 3mn homes. 

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Jake Norris