A vast majority of the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) 39 member and cooperating countries are putting in action United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those focused on climate action, water and sanitation, and affordable and clean energy, according to a pan-European assessment, published recently, of how the SDGs are being implemented. European countries … Continue reading New EEA analysis on Europe’s actions on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Paying for a service to accelerate deployment of energy-efficient technologies
Although energy-efficient technologies are available and their economic benefits are clear, there are several barriers that prevent these from being deployed, including high up-front costs, perception of greater performance risk, and other investment priorities. Dimitris Karamitsos writes on the weforum website about a way to overcome those barriers through servitisation. What is servitisation, and … Continue reading Paying for a service to accelerate deployment of energy-efficient technologies
Two Scottish distilleries are to reach net-zero emissions by the end of the year
This week’s St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland is the official national day. Undoubtedly, many will be raising a glass to celebrate. Now they know that the industry is to become net-zero emissions. Harry Cockburn explains in an article in The Independent. Scotch distilleries to become net-zero under Diageo sustainability plans Two Scottish distilleries are … Continue reading Two Scottish distilleries are to reach net-zero emissions by the end of the year
US President-elect Biden will have his challenges on fracking when his administration takes office
Laura Sanicola writes on the Reuters website about how the American Petroleum Institute will do everything possible to ensure Biden does not fulfil his promise to ban new gas and oil permits on federal lands. No one said the energy transition would be easy. U.S. oil industry group pledges to fight possible Biden fracking … Continue reading US President-elect Biden will have his challenges on fracking when his administration takes office
New study examines what will the electricity system in Ireland will look like in 2030 as it meets the challenges of renewable electricity policy, decarbonisation and security of supply
The carbon neutral energy transition means that our electricity grids have to be fit for purpose. Kevin O’Sullivan writes on the Irish Times website about a new report analysing what needs to happen in Ireland to be ready. Electricity capacity predicted to rise 40% with emissions halved by 2030 By 2030, the electricity system … Continue reading New study examines what will the electricity system in Ireland will look like in 2030 as it meets the challenges of renewable electricity policy, decarbonisation and security of supply
EU green finance getting more serious
Kate Abnett and Simon Jessop write on the Reuter’s website that new taxonomy rules will be tighter for buildings but much less so for the shipping industry. No doubt you will be reading more about latest developments in taxonomy. On November 20th, the Commission launched a stakeholder feedback period on the draft Commission Delegated Regulation supplementing … Continue reading EU green finance getting more serious
Understanding the benefits of ISO 50001
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that to prevent catastrophic climate impacts, global temperature rise must be kept below 1.5°C. Energy management systems can play a key role. Manuel Sarmento discusses the pros and cons of an energy management system on the Energy Live News website. ISO 50001: the pros and cons … Continue reading Understanding the benefits of ISO 50001
Blog from John A. “Skip” Laitner – As the Climate Warms, the Economy Cools—Both Driven by the Same Scale of Resource Inefficiencies
I call it the Blue-Green-Red Resource Squeeze on the American economy. It is neither a perfect nor a straightforward comparison, but it does result in what I think is a rather eerie warning. It is the kind of warning we typically do not read in any number of the emerging climate strategies which we are … Continue reading Blog from John A. “Skip” Laitner – As the Climate Warms, the Economy Cools—Both Driven by the Same Scale of Resource Inefficiencies
New EEA report on better air quality throughout EU has led to significant reduction in premature deaths but almost all Europeans still suffer from air pollution
Better air quality has led to a significant reduction of premature deaths over the past decade in Europe. However, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) latest official data show that almost all Europeans still suffer from air pollution, leading to about 400,000 premature deaths across the continent. Marked improvement in Europe's air quality over past … Continue reading New EEA report on better air quality throughout EU has led to significant reduction in premature deaths but almost all Europeans still suffer from air pollution
The shipping industry will be free to continue producing more emissions for the next decade
Countries from across the world have this week been debating how to address shipping’s enormous climate impact. On Tuesday, all but three countries agreed to an amendment to the rules that would allow shipping emissions to continue to soar in the short term. Daisy Dunne discusses developments in an article on the Independent website. … Continue reading The shipping industry will be free to continue producing more emissions for the next decade
