What on earth is going on? The Financial Times reports: “US philanthropies and non-profits groups focused on climate change fear that a potential loss of their tax-free status under the Trump administration could imperil their programmes. Concerns have grown that the Trump administration is drafting an executive order on the eve of so-called Earth day next week that would have the effect of ending their tax-exempt status, as a logical next step to an order signed in January that targeted government “environmental justice” programmes and expenditures.” The article went on: “A staff member at a major US philanthropic group said that since January, they had tried to couch all climate work in terms of its relevance to food security, public health and economic growth.” This is undoubtedly a major concern. “Without non-profit status, without [the] ability to raise funds and resources, we can’t organise,” one representative of an environmental NGO said, saying any decision to revoke tax-free status would be part of a “multipronged approach to chill dissent”. We’ll know soon but it does not look good.
The Financial Times also reports that as BP and Shell have cut their investment in renewable energy, “TotalEnergies has consistently increased oil and gas production by 3 per cent each year while investing $4bn annually in its integrated power division, which focuses on producing and supplying electricity through wind farms, solar farms and gas-fired power stations.” In 2019, the company made the crucial decision to raise oil and gas output, using profits from its legacy business to fund the pivot into greener products. All of this still means that oil and gas remain mainstays in their industry. So much for the decarbonisation we need.
China is constantly in the news and it is obvious we need to understand China better. A good place to start is the EU-China Energy Cooperation Platform which started in 2019 and is now in its third phase. Its monthly magazines and energy monitors are an excellent way to learn more about energy issues in the EU and China.
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.
- World Walks provides us with the top spring 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.
Arnold J. Toynbee (1889-1975), the British historian and philosopher of history provides an important message this week that we all need to reflect upon: “As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility.”
Time for a game this Easter! On Monday, 14th April, EEIP started an Easter promotion on their fast-paced mobile quiz game enerwhizz.app and for the first time ever you can win new ETcoins… There is no download needed, just add username and play! To understand more about energywhizz, check out these recent articles on energy efficiency and renewable energy!
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- Time to participate in EEA’s ‘Our environment: Our future’ campaign
- New ranking of global cities that highlights Europe’s ability to balance sustainability and growth in its urban centres
- Creative writing workshop inspires climate action
- New EEA data on GHG emissions reductions in EU in 2023
- Air quality in Paris significantly improving
- Blog by Jane Marsh – Europe’s Climate Vision: The Role of CCUS in Achieving a Sustainable Future
- As the US federal government moves to eliminate climate rules, companies still face pressure to be better stewards of the planet
- New insights from US utility programme leaders on disruption and opportunity New insights from US utility programme leaders on disruption and opportunity
- Labour unions, and not oil companies, played the leading role in killing a bill that would have let disaster victims in California sue for causing climate change
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 