Energy in Demand News, July 30, 2023

climate change, communication, energy efficiency, energy transition, GHG emissions, net zero emissions, publication, renewable energy, Sustainable development, sustainable energy

Energy in Demand News… July 30, 2023

No one said the zero carbon energy transition would be easy. This week there have been some interesting news related to making progress:

  • A Financial Times newsletter noted that the energy transition could hinge on recycling because of a shortage of needed metals such as copper, nickel and lithium. The newsletter highlights a report from the Energy Transitions Commission “Material and Resource Requirements for the Energy Transition.” Check it out.
  • The former IPCC chief, Prof Bob Watson, was quoted in a Guardian article:  “I am very concerned. None of the observed changes so far (with a 1.2C temperature rise) are surprising. But they are more severe than we predicted 20 years ago [editor’s formatting] and more severe than the predictions of five years ago. We probably underestimated the consequences.” This is quite worrying especially since no one seems ready to accelerate GHG emissions reductions as are obviously needed.
  • A EURACTIV article notes the lack of progress in “deep” building renovations in France: “. . . of the 650,000 financing applications filed under the scheme between 2021 and April 2023, only 10% were for “deep” renovations, even though 17% of the country’s housing stock is considered leaky. . . .In total, only 50,000 to 100,000 homes in France are fully renovated each year, even though achieving carbon neutrality would require 700,000 a year to be fully renovated as of 2030.”
  • The Financial Times reports this week (behind paywall) that China has obstructed G20 climate negotiations, refusing to discussion such issues as GHG emissions. The FT notes that China’s stance was backed by Saudi Arabia. It also notes that China’s co-operation is critical to the success of this year’s COP28.

No one said the zero carbon energy transition would be easy – and it isn’t.

EiD would like to draw your attention to a new podcast series that we first mentioned two weeks ago.  Empowering small-hold farmers in the Global South requires rethinking both energy systems and equipment. Episode 2 of Distributed Energy for People and the Planet, features Ganesh Neelam (CINI) and Huda Jaffer (SELCO Foundation) discussing the imperative to engage deeply with these communities to ensure technologies truly meet their needs and support their aspirations. And to revamp innovation, policy, finance and philanthropy. The podcast series is co-produced by  The Energy Talk, Global SDG7 Hubs and EnAct.

This year the European Environment Agency invites avid photographers across Europe to capture both the good — sustainable and unsustainable — production and consumption patterns, habits and behaviours in our daily lives. This year’s EEA photo competition ‘ZeroWaste PIX’ calls us all to reflect on the state of modern lifestyles. The aim of ZeroWaste PIX is to raise awareness and inspire change, conveyed through photographs, whether it is an image of factories, landfills or a community garden that bring people together around a shared sense of purpose. Participants can enter photos in four categories: Circular and smart; Eco-lifestyles; Wasteful production; and Consumption mania. The competition remains open until October 3rd. More information on how to enter is available here.

A campaign for cheaper train travel in Europe was launched by Greenpeace, with a report lamenting that many of Europe’s trains cost more than double the equivalent trip on low-cost airlines (see related post from last week). Nonetheless, it is encouraging that there is growing demand for train travel. Check out five great one-week rail trip routes in Europe. Interestingly, inews reports that in Gstaad and the valleys of Saanenland in Switzerland overnight guests can village-hop by train and bus for free. And, yes, you can escape the heatwave.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1861), the American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, provides us with an inspirational message this week: “I hold that while man exists, it is his duty to improve not only his own condition, but to assist in ameliorating mankind.”

EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:

·       New global shipping climate strategy is vague, obscure and almost noncommittal but points the industry toward a cleaner future

·       Even when the carbon captured by new trees is taken into account, wood consumption accounts for about one-tenth of the world’s annual GHG emissions

·       While household air conditioning is one of the “most effective adaptation strategies to reduce heat-related mortality and morbidity,” it can also be an unsustainable and problematic solution to extreme heat

·       Energy ministers failed to agree on phasing down fossil fuels and setting ambitious renewable energy targets at recent G20 meeting

·       The need for addressing embodied carbon in our buildings

·       Australians are champions in using courts to hold governments and companies to account on climate change

·       British high court refuses permission to environmental law charity to bring case against Shell over its climate strategy

·       UK candidate Jim Skea elected as new leader of IPCC

Please send us your comments on any of the posts. EiD hopes you to follow us on Twitter at @EnergyDemand and @rodjanssen. Please recommend EiD to your friends and colleagues.

 

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