Understanding the carbon footprint of ChatGPT

Kate Saenko, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Boston University provides a very interesting article on The Conversation website about the impact of the carbon footprint of AI models. This is definitely going to get more and more important. Interestingly, the author is on leave from Boston University to work at Meta, Inc. so she … Continue reading Understanding the carbon footprint of ChatGPT →

Climate change policy – something is still missing: stringent policies to eliminate methane emissions

Maria Olczak, Queen Mary University of London; Andris Piebalgs,European University Institute; and Paul Balcombe, Queen Mary University of London write on The Conversation website about the need for better policies to reduce methane emissions. Methane must fall to slow global heating – but only 13% of emissions are actually regulated Methane – a potent … Continue reading Climate change policy – something is still missing: stringent policies to eliminate methane emissions →

Our energy transition: GHG emissions from the global transport sector aren’t falling fast enough

Shifting to sustainable travel is essential to reduce carbon emissions from transport. Encouraging public transport, biking, reducing flying and replacing fossil fuel cars with electric ones can help significantly. Martin Kuebler discusses the challenges in this shift to sustainable travel in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Growing demand for travel poses green … Continue reading Our energy transition: GHG emissions from the global transport sector aren’t falling fast enough →

Investments into solar look set to exceed that of oil production for the first time ever

A news item on the Deutsche Welle website discusses latest analysis by the IEA that investments into solar look set to exceed that of oil production for the first time ever, with more than $1.7trn set to be funnelled into clean energy solutions in 2023. Solar power investment overtakes oil for first time The … Continue reading Investments into solar look set to exceed that of oil production for the first time ever →

Half of EU countries have no mandatory energy-saving measures in place for next winter, new analysis by European Environmental Bureau shows

Most measures adopted by EU member states to save gas and electricity are voluntary and only targeted at public buildings, new analysis published this week reveals. Governments refraining from mandatory reductions for business and industry are shifting the burden of the energy crisis onto the most vulnerable citizens, warns the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). The … Continue reading Half of EU countries have no mandatory energy-saving measures in place for next winter, new analysis by European Environmental Bureau shows →

An international first: Dutch wind turbines shut down to prevent migratory birds from flying into the wind turbine blades

NL Times reports that wind turbines were shut down for four hours last weekend to protect migratory birds. It is planned that wind turbines will be shut down more often from this autumn, so that migratory birds can safely travel. Wind turbines at sea shut down for the first time to protect migratory birds … Continue reading An international first: Dutch wind turbines shut down to prevent migratory birds from flying into the wind turbine blades →

Solar is now growing much faster than any other energy technology in history

Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University, writes on The Conversation website arguing that the rise and rise of cheap solar is our best hope for rapidly mitigating climate change. Do you agree? Despairing about climate change? These 4 charts on the unstoppable growth of solar may change your mind Last year, the … Continue reading Solar is now growing much faster than any other energy technology in history →

Canada’s energy transition to net-zero emissions: need to upgrade 600,000 existing homes and 750 million square metres of existing commercial space per year between now and 2040

have to act now, and the shift will require a co-ordinated effort between government, industry and residents. Abdul Matin Sarfraz discusses the challenges and costs in an article on the National Observer website. The cost of turning older buildings into climate-fighting machines While Canada has set a deadline to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions … Continue reading Canada’s energy transition to net-zero emissions: need to upgrade 600,000 existing homes and 750 million square metres of existing commercial space per year between now and 2040 →

Excessive personal consumption needs to be addressed in our climate strategies

Fernando Valladares from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Spain, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses a study that found that rich people leave a disproportionately large carbon footprint, and that the share of global emissions for which they are responsible is increasing and there is a need to tax the … Continue reading Excessive personal consumption needs to be addressed in our climate strategies →

India sees the proposed EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as discriminatory and a trade barrier

In a news item on the EURACTIV website, India is concerned about CBAM and will raise it at the World Trade Organization. What are your views? India plans to challenge EU carbon tax at WTO Indian plans to file a complaint to the World Trade Organisation over the European Union’s proposal to impose 20% … Continue reading India sees the proposed EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as discriminatory and a trade barrier →