Energy in Demand News, August 13, 2023

Energy in Demand News… August 13, 2023

What is going on? This week the IEA reported that global oil demand hits record and may rise further. A Financial Times column (behind a paywall) this week by Pilita Clark contends that climate politics has entered a new phase. She makes an important point about the energy transition: “Unlike previous energy transitions from, say, horses to cars or wood to coal, this one has a deadline. The climate extremes seen this year have come when average global temperatures are 1.1C higher than they were before the industrial revolution.” She also raises important questions about the transition: “To limit warming to 1.5C, greenhouse gas emissions must nearly halve by 2030 and come down to nearly zero by 2050. That’s hard, when more than 75 per cent of those emissions come from burning fossil fuels that still supply about 80 per cent of the world’s energy. How do you pay for this transition? Can you repurpose fossil fuel infrastructure? What do you do with redundant coal, oil and gas workers?” Do you have the answers?

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 3^rd. More information on how to enter the competition is available here.

With so many people on the move this summer, here are some useful news to help you along:

• It is encouraging that there is growing demand for train travel. Check out five great one-week rail trip routes in Europe. If you’re interested in a cycling trip this year, have a look at the Epic Road Rides website that describes the 12 best cycling destinations in Europe this year. For those who want to cycle in Scotland, try this pedalling along the low road.
• Trams are a great way to get around cities. The European Best Destinations website suggests the best trams in Europe.
• For those of you driving around France, remember that urban air quality is increasingly important. Note that the Crit’Air vignette must be displayed to enter Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg, Lyon, and many other cities to avoid a €180 fine.

Leonardo DiCaprio (b. 1974), the American actor and film producer provides an important message from his acting that also reflects his commitment to environmental issues: “I play fictitious characters often solving fictitious problems. I believe mankind has looked at climate change in the same way, as if it were a fiction.”

For something extra special this weekend, read this poem calling for bold action in this era of wildfires, overheated oceans and shrinking biodiversity from Ben Okri, the Nigerian-British poet. EiD was particularly taken by this phrase:

We need a new language

That howls and caresses at the same time

So true.

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

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