Climate change affects all Europeans but vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, low-income groups and people with health problems or disabilities, are the most affected. One in ten European schools and hospitals may also be at flood risk and about half of those facilities in cities are within intense urban heat islands. A European … Continue reading New EEA briefing looks at inequalities arising from climate change effects and how to address them through equitable climate change adaptation
Author: Rod Janssen
A giant ‘water battery’ has been switched on in Switzerland
A giant Swiss plant, under construction for 14 years, has recently been switched on. It has power output large enough to power as many as 900,000 homes. Anthony Cuthbertson discusses latest developments in an article on The Independent website. €2 billion underground ‘water battery’ turns on in Switzerland A giant ‘water battery’ capable of … Continue reading A giant ‘water battery’ has been switched on in Switzerland
New report from EIB on what drives firms’ investment in climate change
The European Investment Bank has recently published its most recent EIB investment survey. From extreme heatwaves and wildfires to in North America to the deadly flooding in Western Europe and Asia in 2021, the dramatic rise in catastrophic weather events has repercussions for firms. At the same time, cutting emissions sufficiently to limit global warming … Continue reading New report from EIB on what drives firms’ investment in climate change
“No matter how many supply-side resources we pour into the mix, the perfect blend will elude us until we stop treating demand-side flexibility as a final flourish of glitter”
With REPowerEU underway, Europe’s energy and climate strategy demands a rapid change of scenery. We must utilise the full palette of solutions available, including household flexibility, says Sophie Yule-Bennett from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) in an article on the FORESIGHT Climate & Energy website. House power: the hidden powerhouse of the new energy … Continue reading “No matter how many supply-side resources we pour into the mix, the perfect blend will elude us until we stop treating demand-side flexibility as a final flourish of glitter”
How important is it to keep the Energy Charter Treaty?
In an article on The Conversation website, Chamu Kuppuswamy, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, at the University of Hertfordshire argues that, while withdrawing from the energy charter treaty is possible for any country to do, losing the benefits of membership – such as fewer duties and taxes on imports of oil and gas – will … Continue reading How important is it to keep the Energy Charter Treaty?
The importance of urban tree canopy protection and restoration
Alex Boston, Fellow, MJ Wosk Centre for Dialogue; Executive Director, Renewable Cities, at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia writes on The Conversation website about the importance of green innovation in cities. What are your views? Cities need to embrace green innovation now to cut heat deaths in the future In late June 2021, … Continue reading The importance of urban tree canopy protection and restoration
New JRC report – Empowering vulnerable consumers in the energy transition
A new JRC paper examines ways to empower the energy poor and vulnerable consumers as active informed citizens and actors in the energy system, looking at exemplary practices from around Europe. Promising initiatives include energy advisors, trusted intermediaries, locally embedded innovative business models (like one-stop shops), trainings of energy actors, energy ombudsmen, energy cafés and … Continue reading New JRC report – Empowering vulnerable consumers in the energy transition
New EEA briefing on how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation
Building renovation is a key contributor to improving energy efficiency and to achieving a climate neutral European Union (EU) by 2050. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, investigates how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation. It finds that, through 2050, circularity can significantly reduce the use of materials … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation
“The return to the electric motor is only just beginning and is still stumbling over the distribution network”
'The return to the electric motor is only just beginning and is still stumbling over the distribution network,' said economist Pierre-Cyrille Hautcœur in his column on the Le Monde website. And it needs public investment into infrastructure not to fail as it did in the early 20th century. 'In 1905, half the world's cars were … Continue reading “The return to the electric motor is only just beginning and is still stumbling over the distribution network”
The options in Germany’s accelerated energy transitions
Without Russian natural gas, Germany will be facing an energy crisis. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Jeannette Cwienk discusses what the most realistic and climate-friendly options are. How can Germany realistically replace gas? As Germany scrambles to find a way to lower its reliance on Russian natural gas, the country has announced a … Continue reading The options in Germany’s accelerated energy transitions
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 