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Lessons from Europe’s coal power collapse
by Julia Pazos - 29 July 2025
Across Europe, coal power is on its last legs. Most European countries committed to phasing out one of the dirtiest fossil fuels from their power sectors over the past decade. Now those commitments are starting to materialise. The summer of 2025 marks a historic moment: two of Europe’s largest economies, Italy and Spain, are preparing to end coal power generation on the mainland, following closely on the heels of Ireland’s coal exit in June and the UK’s in 2024.
These closures are not isolated events. They are part of a broader transformation already reshaping the European energy landscape from fossil fuels to renewables-based.
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A more affordable, secure Italy starts at the local level
by Beyond Fossil Fuels - 11 June 2025
Local municipal governments are in a unique position to drive the energy transition forward with more ease and exponential impact. By leading the shift away from polluting fossil fuels and toward cleaner, fairer energy systems, local governments can protect their communities, bolster their local businesses, reduce electricity costs, and build lasting resilience. A growing number of municipalities in Italy as well as across Europe are already showing how it can be done. The rest of Italy, with its vast solar and wind potential, strong local governance structures, and EU funding opportunities, has every reason to join them.
Benefit sharing mechanisms are at the heart of this transformation. They ensure that renewable energy projects don’t just “land” in communities but actively involve and benefit them. When done right—not as a greenwashing exercise but through meaningful engagement and participation—benefit sharing creates win-win outcomes for developers and communities alike while advancing climate goals.
