The Financial Times reported an escalation of scientists’ fears of a breach of the 1.5C warming level set down in the Paris accord, after the latest data showing the monthly average global temperature had topped the threshold for 21 out of the past 22 months. The global average temperature over the 12-month period to the end of April was 1.58C above the pre-industrial level. t’s not obvious, with the measures we have in place, that there is any hope of reversing that rise.
The Trump administration is doing everything possible to disrupt our current approaches to addressing climate change. This week it was confirmed that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will no longer update a list of weather disasters that cause billions of dollars of damage. The agency has confirmed, according to the Washington Post, that it will still allow access to disaster records from 1980 to 2024.
The Financial Times reports that top officials at US financial watchdogs “are seeking to weaken the power of a high-level task force set up in 2020 to examine climate change risks to the financial system by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the standard-setter for global financial regulation.” It doesn’t stop there. “The move comes as the Trump administration has taken steps to force all arms of the US government, along with international bodies such as the World Bank and IMF, to ditch their focus on climate-related issues.” Climate finance is more and more important in the drive to meet long-term climate objectives… what’s next in the anti-climate arsenal?
Following the major electrical failure in Spain and Portugal recently, the Financial Times reports that “Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has insisted he will not deviate “a single millimetre” from his commitment to renewable energy even after a catastrophic blackout raised questions over the country’s power mix.” Sánchez told parliament on Wednesday, “We are not going to deviate a single millimetre from the energy road map we have planned since 2018. Not only are renewables our country’s energy future, they are our only and best option. They are the only way to reindustrialise Spain.” EiD certainly hopes others are listening.
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.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher and cultural critic who was famous for uncompromising criticisms of traditional European morality and religion, gives us an important message this week: “You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- US EPA plans to shut down the Energy Star Program
- What can we learn from Immanuel Kant about navigating today’s multiple crises?
- Politeness vs. Planet: The Surprising Cost of Thanking ChatGPT
- Results from new study on reducing emissions in industry through a holistic approach
- America’s energy transition: the shift from federal to state and local
- Methane data and transparency continue to improve, but emissions remain far too high
- New report reveals that the amount of solar power installed globally in 2024 represents a 33% surge over the 2023 figure
- With 90% of countries yet to produce updated climate plans, the COP30 presidency is encouraging grassroots organisations to lead the way
- Green steel: How hydrogen and electric ironmaking drive innovation
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 