In brief | 29 July '24

Reuters: Trump effect in clean tech sector deepens angst in Europe's boardrooms

European companies focused on clean energy are abandoning expansion plans, bracing for lower sales or see funding of U.S projects in doubt because of fears over what a potential election victory for Donald Trump could mean for their sector.

Bloomberg: European banks are building loan loss reserves for climate risks

European banks are increasingly setting aside money to digest potential losses from climate change, responding to pressure from their top regulator.

AFP: TotalEnergies exits South African gas fields over economic challenges

French energy giant TotalEnergies said it was withdrawing from two offshore gas fields in South Africa as they did not appear economically viable.

NY Times: Germans combat climate change from their balconies

Plug-and-play solar panels are popping up in yards and on balcony railings across Germany, driven by bargain prices and looser regulations.

DPA International: Number electric cars being driven worldwide jumps by half to 42m

The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) reported that there were around 42 million cars with electric motors at the end of 2023 - some 50 percent more than a year earlier.