Energy in Demand News, March 9-10, 2025

Brazil will host COP 30 of the UNFCCC, the world’s most important climate talks in November this year in the Amazon port of Belém. Quoted in the Financial Times (behind a paywall), Marina Silva, Brazil’s environment minister, said: “It is clear that the withdrawal of the Paris agreement of the world’s second-largest emitter, the world’s largest economic and technological power, is a loss. We cannot be deniers – it is a loss.” The confluence of the US withdrawal, new trade tariffs and the resurgence of geopolitical conflicts would have a “triple negative effect” on climate action. “They may drain resources and they also may hamper the environment of confidence and trust among parties. We have a triple negative effect because the less action we see, the less money we see, resulting in less co-operation across countries,” she said. It is going to be a tough year.

A Financial Times newsletter discussed “who will be left holding oil assets when the music stops?” While OPEC is convinced that world consumption of oil will continue to grow to 2050, not all are convinced. The newsletter refers to a new study carried out by the UK Sustainable Investment and Financial Association. They looked at the outlook for fossil fuel asset valuations under the Announced Pledges scenario developed by the International Energy Agency, which portrays how the global energy system could develop if governments meet their climate targets. The researchers found that meeting current targets would lead to $2.3tn in asset writedowns and other financial losses by 2040 as resources were left in the ground due to insufficient demand. They go on. Even under the IEA’s far less ambitious Stated Policies scenario — in which governments barely go any further to meet their climate goals than the policies they’ve already announced — global stranded assets would still amount to $872bn, the researchers found. So, where are your investments?

The American Council For an Energy-Efficient Economy’s latest newsletter has some uncomfortable news about energy efficiency policies and programmes in America: “Federal energy efficiency programs remain in chaos—like many federal programs—amid a blizzard of presidential executive orders, White House memos, and agency actions. These disruptions will mean more energy waste. . . . Some funding for weatherizing low-income homes has been frozen in the middle of winter, some states are halting efficiency rebates because federal funds are cut off, and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund recipients are laying off staff because President Trump’s administration is taking legal action to freeze their funds. Funding for some programs appears to be flowing again… At the same time, the administration is aggressively shrinking the federal workforce. Even if funding is restored, the agencies may have reduced capacity to manage contracts… ACEEE continues to work under federal grants when possible (a portion of our funding) and to work with allies to protect critical funding, cut energy waste, and save money.” See today’s post on latest developments in the US.

In planning travel over the upcoming weeks, here are 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.
• Torino (Italy) is embracing a new era, transforming from an industrial powerhouse into a flourishing tourism destination: Torino Named European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797), an Anglo-Irish statesman and philosopher regarded as the philosophical founder of conservatism, provides an important message for all of us: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.”

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

• There is progress towards meeting 2030 zero-pollution targets in Europe but pollution levels remain too high
• Discussing the connective tissue that binds the green and digital transitions in the EU
• First Nations peoples in Australia must be central to – and benefit from – this energy transition
• The EU’s recently announced Affordable Energy Action Plan is “a step in the right direction”
• Blog by Marine Cornelis – Not so easy livin’: the hidden struggle to stay cool
• Polling suggests catastrophic climate change-induced disasters are having little effect on the Canadian public’s understanding of the climate crisis
• This year Toronto will be the second city in Canada to have emission reduction rules for new and old buildings
• New EEA briefing on need to control methane emissions across Europe
• Following latest American developments

Please send your comments on any of the posts. Please recommend EiD to your friends and colleagues.

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