Rounding up the best of Cipher in 2024

This was a big year for the energy transition and a busy year for Cipher. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite articles from 2024 and offer them to you here for easy reading. Latest News

Cipher Staff 4 min read

Africa’s clean hydrogen path must begin with clearing the hype

African countries have a lot to gain, and a lot to lose, from investing heavily in the nascent clean hydrogen industry. Voices

Meron Tesfaye 3 min read

Why we need a more ambitious global energy target

The world is committing to expanding energy access to all, but our current target is too low. Without a new approach, we will leave billions of people behind — and drive an even bigger wedge between rich and poor nations over climate policy. Voices

Todd Moss 3 min read

How Prometheus sheds light on Africa’s energy future

The current energy transition isn’t humanity’s first, but it is perhaps the most monumental. Unlike its predecessors, this transition is urgent — and must benefit everyone. Voices

Andrew Kamau 3 min read

Betting on solar solutions where there is no grid

Innovative off-grid solar projects are gaining traction in the climate financing world as a way of more quickly and efficiently solving an energy access problem affecting hundreds of millions of people.  Explainers

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Africa’s critical minerals could play bigger role in U.S. energy transition

U.S. climate laws give African countries a new chance to get in on America’s manufacturing supply chains. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

African energy leader calls for reality check on minerals extraction

The world is failing to pay sufficient attention to the energy-intensive practice of mineral extraction, which takes place under questionable human rights and working conditions in many low- and middle-income countries, Amani Abou-Zeid told Cipher. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

For lower income nations, fossil fuel debate rings hollow

For low- and middle income countries with oil and gas resources they’ve barely tapped, the debate over whether to take advantage of these resources feels unfair. Explainers

Bill Spindle 4 min read

Universal access to clean cooking lags behind

While the world strives to transition to a net zero economy, many poorer countries still do not have access to basic energy needs like clean cooking. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

COP28’s big challenge is closing the energy investment gap

Clean energy investment is ramping up fast, but most of it is still not reaching beyond the world’s richest countries.  Explainers

Bill Spindle 4 min read

How to get the minerals we need in a clean energy future

Securing the critical minerals we need for a green energy future will require cleaning up mining practices, boosting recycling and innovating to be less dependent on them altogether. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

The massive quest for the minerals we need in a clean energy future

The rush toward a clean energy future means we need to dig, extract and process Earth’s resources faster and better than ever before. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Cleantech race risks sidelining developing countries

The global cleantech race underway between the United States, Europe and China could leave developing countries behind. The world’s major economies are competing to become industrial leaders in the burgeoning cleantech sector. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Why we can’t sacrifice our way out of climate change

Matt Rogers helped teach millions of homeowners to look for the leaf symbol on their Nest thermostats to save money—and curb climate change. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

Energy security and federal climate funding to shape 2023

A historic 2022 will drive what happens this year. In our last December edition, we reflected on the five trends we predicted would shape 2022. This week, we’re looking at five trends we’re watching at Cipher in 2023. Harder Line

Amy Harder 5 min read

War and new climate law make history in 2022

Every year since 2018, I’ve looked back and ahead at the trends shaping the past year and the year to come, including reality checks of my previous predictions. We’re keeping the tradition going. Harder Line

Amy Harder 5 min read

Climate goals rising in countries that use the most coal

The overwhelming majority of global coal consumption occurs in countries that have pledged to limit or phase out their reliance on the fuel, according to a report out this month from the International Energy Agency. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

As the world bakes, developing world scrambles to adapt

The world is not cutting emissions fast enough to slow climate change, leaving everyone—but especially developing nations—scrambling to adapt to a hotter planet and its extreme-weather consequences. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

How to unlock clean tech for the developing world

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt—A half day’s drive from this resort town where thousands are gathered at an annual climate gathering, one of the world’s biggest solar farms stands as a rare example of how clean energy can be financed and built in a developing country. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Clean tech is not reaching the developing world fast enough

Not enough cash is flowing to clean energy technologies in the developing world, widening the investment gap between rich and poorer countries and hampering the energy transition. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Bending capitalism to fight climate change

Governments, corporations and nonprofits are coming up with novel ways to prod capitalism to help tackle—instead of fuel—climate change. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

No energy access leaves millions scrambling for survival, says U.N. special rep

The world needs to drastically step up funding to end energy poverty or risk leaving millions of people in poor countries fighting for their lives. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

American air conditioners are energy hogs

As the world warms—due largely to climate change—more and more people will need air conditioning, creating a cruel feedback loop: as the Earth warms, we use more air conditioning, which could warm the planet even more. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

Africa poised for clean energy potential, but basic needs lacking

A lack of basic access to energy sources remains one of the main barriers to Africa’s industrial development, according to a report out this month from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Africa, Middle East set to lead green hydrogen race

Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Oceania are the regions with the highest technical potential to produce green hydrogen, while Europe is likely to become a key import market. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Geopolitics lurk in EU’s bet on green hydrogen in energy transition

The European Union is working hard to rid itself of Russian natural gas, and in the process the 27-member bloc is betting on a different gas as a clean alternative: green hydrogen. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Renewables to dominate Africa’s soaring electricity demand

Wind and solar power are set to account for roughly two-thirds of Africa’s on-grid electricity by 2050 in a future where the world drastically reduces heat-trapping emissions, according to a new study by consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Data Dives

Amy Harder 2 min read

Buckshot around the world

Each country has their own unique energy mix made up of different resources and technologies—a dirtier buckshot, if you will. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1