June’s positive climate news: Historic milestone for renewables and Stroud’s pay-what-you-can restaurant

At The Long Table in Stroud, England, diners share meals at communal tables and pay only what they can afford. Founded on ‘radical hospitality’, the restaurant welcomes everyone without questions or proof of need. Last year, it served over 38,000 meals, with many subsidised by guests who paid above cost. Beyond affordable dining, The Long Table fosters social connection by bringing together people from different backgrounds. Its focus on quality food, local sourcing, apprenticeships and community support demonstrates how hospitality can promote dignity, inclusion and resilience during challenging economic times.

For the first time ever, wind and solar generated more electricity than gas globally during April 2026. Together, they produced 22% of the world’s electricity, compared with 20% from gas. Wind and solar delivered a record 531 TWh of power, surpassing gas generation by 54 TWh. The achievement reflects rapid growth in renewable energy across major economies, including China, the EU, the UK and the US. Despite global energy market uncertainty, renewables continue to expand because they are affordable, secure and locally sourced. Experts see this milestone as part of a long-term shift toward cleaner energy.

This year’s calving season along America’s southeast coast recorded 23 North Atlantic right whale calves, the highest number since 2009. Conservation efforts appear to be helping this endangered species recover, with increasing sightings, population growth and more frequent births. Of the 23 mother-calf pairs identified, 20 were returning mothers. Notably, 13 of these females had calves in 2021 or 2022, reducing the birth interval to around three to four years, closer to the healthy norm. Researchers also documented 500 sightings of 129 migrating whales, a 29% increase from last year, with valuable contributions from citizen observers and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitoring programs.

Ever since we delivered 100% renewable electricity to our first customer in 1996, we’ve been proud to be Britain’s overall greenest energy company. It’s more than green energy — the breadth and depth of our work on green issues is unmatched.