Two years ago, at COP28 in the Dubai, countries agreed on the need to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.” This was essentially the first time that official documents in the UNFCCC process made reference to fossil fuels. COP30 was extended from the planned closing on Friday because of a deadlock over fossil fuels and supposedly delegates were “far apart”. The draft agreement released on Friday morning failed to mention coal, oil and gas, whose emissions are the main cause of climate change due to the resistence from a bloc including Saudi Arabia, Russia and other petrostates. Following bitter rows, the UN climate summit COP30 in Belém finally ended with a deal that contains no direct reference to the fossil fuels that are heating up the planet. Oil-producing nations held the line that they should be allowed to use their fossil fuel resources to grow their economies. The UNFCCC executive secretary, Simon Stiel’s final words were: “COP30 showed that climate cooperation is alive and kicking, keeping humanity in the fight for a livable planet.” We have to stay positive. We must. But it’s not obvious.
The Financial Times reports that “UN secretary-general António Guterres identified an emboldened Saudi Arabia as leading moves to obstruct key outcomes at the COP30 climate summit, according to those present at meetings with EU negotiators.” Note the EiD post this week about the solar push Saudi Arabia is making. Hmm. So much for their energy transition. So, who is pushing for fossil fuels?
Turkey will host the COP31 climate summit in 2026 but with Australia leading the negotiation process, a document released at the COP30 summit in Brazil showed on Friday. You can read the partnership agreement here. Will fossil fuels get back on the agenda?
The National Observer reports that Laurent Segalen, a Franco-British clean energy financier, was in Montreal this week to discuss the so-called North Atlantic Transmission One Link ( NATO-L) with a group of Canadian energy developers, engineering and technology firms, think tanks and industry bodies. This would be a $30 billion 4,000-kilometre-long power line across the Atlantic seafloor between Canada and Europe. The concept is that late in the European night when power demand is low and electricity therefore cheap, surplus production from wind and solar farms could be wheeled westward to provide supply in the high demand Canadian evening. And reciprocally, onshore and – in future – offshore wind production in Canada, backed by hydropower, could be transported east when it would otherwise be unneeded in Canada. Let’s see if this gets off the ground.
You will remember that it was announced in September that night trains linking Paris to Vienna and Berlin are to end December 15th as France cut subsidies. Well, now Business Traveller reports that the Belgian-Dutch train operator European Sleeper is relaunching its Paris to Berlin night train in March 2026. European Sleeper plans to operate services three times per week. Departures from Paris will run on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, while return services from Berlin will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. The first trip is scheduled to leave from Paris on 26 March 2026, and tickets will go on sale from 16 December 2025.
Mark your calendar. The eceee bi-annual summer study will be held next June 1-6, in Center Parcs Lac d’Ailette, in Haute-de-France, about an hour north-east of Paris. Just like in 2024, the 2026 Summer Study will continue to cover the broad range of topics from energy consumption and behaviour, over policy & evaluation, to local energy planning, transportation, buildings, appliance and product policy, and industry. The abstract submission deadline is December 17th. eceee will accept both peer-reviewed papers and extended abstracts. Details are available here.
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.
- Check out the Good Night Train website for the unique way to travel through Europe while you sleep.
- World Walks provides us with walking holidays 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.
Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774), an Anglo-Irish poet, novelist and playwright, gives us a straight forward comment on success: “Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- Renewables are ready: The world isn’t – yet
- Climate Action Tracker Briefing : Three key near-term actions could bring projected warming below 2˚C
- “Indigenous peoples are on the vanguard of climate action”
- Blog by Jane Marsh: Clouds without carbon: Europe’s journey to 100% renewable data centers
- World off track from 2030 energy efficiency goal, says IEA
- Climate finance on shaky ground: miscounting, mislabeling and the cost for developing nations
- UK’s iconic landmarks at risk from climate change by 2050, according to new report
- Saudi Arabia’s solar surge: reinventing an oil empire
- New UK data reveal climate confusion—and the critical role of local authorities
- What flight carbon calculators miss – and how to judge a good one
- Shifting climate attitudes: A growing divide between rich and middle-income nations
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 