There is encouraging good news that carbon emissions dropped in the EU in 2023. The Guardian reported on analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) showing that the EU “pumped out 8% less carbon dioxide from the fossil fuels it burned in 2023 than it did in 2022.” Crea analyst Isaac Levi said: “EU CO2 emissions have finally fallen back to levels apparent in my parents’ generation in the 1960s. Yet, over this time period, the economy has tripled – showing that climate change can be combated without foregoing economic growth.” The report found that more than half of the drop in emissions came from the use of cleaner electricity. The report cautioned, though, that much more needs to be done.
This week, the Financial Times (behind a paywall) reported on a draft EC document that concludes the EU must invest about €1.5 trillion a year between 2031 and 2050 to meet the 2050 target. The draft document sets out Brussels’ plan for slashing GHG emissions by 90% by 2040 and reaching “economy-wide climate neutrality” by 2050. The FT goes on: “The high level of investment aims to reduce the cost of inaction as the effects of global warming become increasingly apparent. Keeping temperature rises to within 1.5C above pre-industrial levels could save the EU €2.4tn in economic losses between 2031 and 2050 and cut net costs of fossil fuel imports by €2.8tn over the same period,” it added.
In upcoming weeks there are two events not to miss. This coming week there is the eceee Zero Carbon Industry event. In early March there is the European Energy Efficiency Conference which is part of World Sustainable Energy Days. Check out details on the two events here.
In planning travel over the upcoming weeks, here is some useful news to help you along:
- The inews website provides Europe’s most exciting new rail routes for 2024
- For winter walking, the Responsible Travel website gives you many interesting options.
- The EuroBikes website describes winter cycling tours.
- There is always the option of virtual tourism at the Xplore Nature Channel that EiD first promoted back in September. There are now 132 videos.
Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories, provides a valuable message to reflect on: “ Any nation that thinks more of its ease and comfort than its freedom will soon lose its freedom; and the ironical thing about it is that it will lose its ease and comfort too.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- New EEA update on the air pollution from large European industry
- Ground-breaking retrofit approach, Energiesprong, wins prestigious global award
- “Women continue to drive ambitious climate action more than everywhere”
- Not all carbon-capture projects offer the same economic and environmental benefits
- Gone are the days when UK government pledged to be the most energy-efficient nation in Europe
- The troubling trend of SUVs getting wider
- Toxic emissions from the Canadian tar sands have been dramatically underestimated
- “Discussions of AI overlook one significant environmental risk: a potential increase in energy consumption from using it in everyday activities”
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Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 