Who would have guessed? Norway’s coalition government has collapsed because of the EU’s energy efficiency directive, energy performance of buildings directive and renewable energy directive! The Eurosceptic junior coalition partner quit after the Prime Minister pushed to implement the energy directives. Norway (which is not a member of the European Union) adopts most of the EU’s laws due to its membership in the European Economic Area. The Financial Times (behind a paywall), reports that both coalition parties in recent weeks vowed to oppose the renewal of Norway’s electricity interconnectors with Denmark, sparking concern across Europe of perceived energy nationalism by Norway. Friction between Oslo and Brussels has risen in recent years, with many EU countries believing that Norway should be more generous with its hydropower and should not threaten to stop exporting power via interconnectors to Denmark, the UK and Germany. Well, they did. What happens next will be fascinating.
Discussion at the Davos Conference was full of speculation that the Maga vision of corporate life will struggle, according to an article in the Financial Times (behind a paywall). One great quote by Andrew Forrest, an Australian billionaire stood out: “Companies that jumped on the anti-ESG bandwagon and said, “Let’s just go full speed ahead, bugger the icebergs,” are in for a shock Forrest said. “You will be like the Titanic because the climate doesn’t care about our politics, and it’s getting worse.” Forrest is the Australian billionaire determined to turn his Forescue iron ore mining group into a green industry showcase. Let’s hope he succeeds.
Excellent data on energy efficiency from New England. A new report by the Acadia Center finds that state-level energy-efficiency programmes provided New England households with $55 billion in benefits from 2012-23, providing $3.40 in benefits for every $1 invested.
In planning travel over the upcoming weeks, here is some useful ideas to help you along:
- Country Living Magazine provides 3 European train routes set to transform travel in 2025.
- Much Better Adventures provides us with 10 of the best winter walks in Europe.
- For those who want to combine hiking with food and wine in Europe and Australia, check out the Hedonistic Hiking website.
- Cycling for Softies provides us with the 15 Best Cycling Holidays in Europe 2025.
- Travelling in 2025? Here’s how to become a ‘regenerative’ tourist.
- Visit Wels, Austria in early March and attend WSED (see post below).
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), the 32nd US President, gives us an important message on progress this week: “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- The EC’s Competitive Compass plots a course for policymakers to follow over the next five years
- New report questions IEA’s focus on the global energy transition
- Energy consumption is only one part of AI’s broader environmental impact
- It’s not clear that Heathrow Airport expansion can fit within the UK’s legal and arguably moral requirement to cut emissions and remain within its carbon budget
- Worries of backtracking of EU’s green agenda
- Estimating future heat-related and cold-related mortality under climate change, demographic and adaptation scenarios in 854 European cities
- Data centres and the energy storage solution
- The shift to renewable energy in Africa must be a just transition
- Upcoming event: World Sustainable Energy Days, European Energy Efficiency Conference, 6-7 March 2025
Please send your comments on any of the posts. Please recommend EiD to your friends and colleagues.
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Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 
Nice post 🌅🌅