"A concerted push for clean-energy innovation is the only way the world can meet its climate goals," according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The organization said governments should help boost or accelerate this transformation.

As the US administration releases the first instalment of an ongoing program to draw up a roadmap for the country's future energy policy, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is urging the Department of Energy to include the electricity generation portfolio - especially nuclear energy - in its long-term planning.

The Canadian province of Ontario is following its efforts to phase out coal-fired electricity generation by introducing a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

At the heart of the modern energy debate is a struggle between the need for more energy globally, while simultaneously achieving lower emissions. Nuclear energy is uniquely positioned to help respond to these duelling necessities, but innovative advancements must overcome considerable barriers, writes Todd Allen.

Global carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector in 2014 were at the same level as in 2013, according to preliminary figures from the International Energy Agency. It suggests that policy responses, rather than economic factors, led to the zero growth in emissions.

Legislation to cut carbon emissions currently before the Illinois general assembly would ensure the continued operation of the state's nuclear power plants, according to Exelon.

Scientists have for the first time actually observed an increase in carbon dioxide's greenhouse effect at the Earth's surface. They attributed this upward trend to rising emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) proposed Clean Power Plan is achievable without jeopardizing the reliability of the country's power system, a study by the Analysis Group has concluded.

The European Commission has launched discussion on the creation of its proposed Energy Union. The initiative, it said, aims to "reform how Europe produces, transports and consumes energy."

Nuclear power is one of the most important technologies that can help the world to limit global warming to 2ºC, said OECD agencies in a Technology Roadmap for nuclear that spells out some steps to ensure this happens.

World leaders must commit to pricing carbon, cutting fossil fuel subsidies and tackling climate change this year, according to World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim.

An agreement was reached at the recent United Nations climate change talks in Lima that all countries will submit details of their post-2020 plans to tackle climate change by the end of October 2015. The combined effect of these efforts will then be assessed.