A report released on January 25th by Ember and Agora Energiewende showed that, in 2020, Europe produced more electricity from renewable sources than from fossil fuels. The unprecedented feat in Europe is good news because energy from renewable sources does not pollute the environment.

Clean sources generated 38% of the continent’s electricity, while fossil fuels (such as coal) accounted for 37%. The change was driven by the increase in wind (which draws energy from the wind) and solar (which uses panels to generate energy from the sun) technology. Together they account for one fifth of the electricity in European Union countries. Other sources, such as coal and nuclear power, have had their share decreased.

This was one more step toward the enactment of the European Council agreement which aims to reduce gas emissions that cause the greenhouse effect by 55% by 2030 when compared to 1990 levels. Brazil has signed its own pledge in the Paris Agreement to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions by 2060.

Glossary

Greenhouse effect: the increase in Earth’s temperature caused by polluting gases trapped in the atmosphere. Human activity has intensified it, making the Earth increasingly hotter.

Questions

1) Which renewable energies are mentioned in the text?

a) Wind and solar

b) Marine power

c) Photosynthesis

d) Rain

2) How can countries help reduce the greenhouse effect?

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