This week the European Commission will propose the new level of ambition for GHG emissions reductions it considers necessary for 2040. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) notes that the EU’s climate chief, Wopke Hoekstra, “has warned the bloc must not be lured into a “false narrative” that action against global warming is undermining the competitiveness of European businesses, as Brussels fights a backlash against its ambitious environmental laws.” The FT quotes Mr. Hoekstra: “ “We need to stand on two legs: one leg is climate action, the other leg is the just transition, competitiveness and a thriving business community, because both are needed.” The EU should not “be lured into the false narrative that you can only have one or the other”, he added.
Lord Nick Stern, author of the groundbreaking 2006 Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, also made a strong argument in favour of sustainable investment. He wrote in the FT this week about Britain, but the message is relevant to all countries. “The transition to a sustainable, inclusive and resilient economy is a genuine opportunity for the UK to drive innovation and competitiveness and rekindle productivity growth. . . . But it requires government to embrace a coherent, credible and targeted set of policies to unlock new, intelligent and sustainable forms of investment and growth.” This is an important message for all of us.
In upcoming weeks there are two events not to miss. In early March there is the European Energy Efficiency Conference which is part of World Sustainable Energy Days. In June, eceee has its biannual summer study. 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 133 videos.
Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories, once again offers a valuable thought this week: “It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- Norway’s district court in Oslo recently made a decision on fossil fuels that compels energy firms to account for the industry’s entire carbon footprint
- The coming months will determine if COP29 will be a success and whether benefits will trickle down to vulnerable communities in developing countries
- Climate activists starting to take adaptation more seriously
- German’s energy transition faces backlash
- The German city of Mannheim heats thousands of homes using ice-cold water
- Shortfalls in climate monitoring leave informal settlements dangerously vulnerable to rising humid heat
- The gap between official and real-world data on CO2 emissions from passenger cars in the EU has developed since introducing a new type-approval test procedure
- Natural resource extraction has soared by almost 400% since 1970 and now expected to increase by 60% by 2060
Please send your comments on any of the posts. Please follow us on X at @EnergyDemand and @rodjanssen. Please recommend EiD to your friends and colleagues.
If you would like to subscribe to this weekly newsletter, please write to energyindemand@gmail.com.
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 