High-quality green and blue spaces in cities, like parks, allotments, riverbanks and coastlines, are crucial for health and well-being, in particular for the elderly, children and people on low incomes. However, a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, shows that access is not equal. How green are European cities? Green space key … Continue reading New EEA briefing on inequalities in access to urban green and blue spaces across Europe
Author: Rod Janssen
A new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman
Research led by Dr Maryam Zuhair Al Lawati, from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, discovered a new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman. A Times News Service article on the Times of Oman website discusses the new research. Research finds new … Continue reading A new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman
Energy bills in the UK are nearly £2.5bn higher than they would have been if climate policies had not been scrapped over the past decade
Everyone is coping with rising energy prices, but recent research shows that scrapped climate policies over the past decade have had costly consequences. Tom Brook discusses in an article on the techradar website. Cutting green initiatives has added £2.5bn to UK energy bills Previous efforts to slash climate policies are now costing the average … Continue reading Energy bills in the UK are nearly £2.5bn higher than they would have been if climate policies had not been scrapped over the past decade
New Dutch government puts green hydrogen front and centre as part of its climate policy
Mirela Petkova writes on the Energy Monitor website about the priorities for the new government in the Netherlands. On the supply side, the focus will be on green hydrogen and possibly on nuclear power as well. The report does not discuss developments on energy demand. If any readers have insight into what is going on … Continue reading New Dutch government puts green hydrogen front and centre as part of its climate policy
How to stay cool – sustainably
Rising temperatures are leading to a surge in demand for cooling. But, ironically, the more we rely on energy-intensive air conditioners, the more the planet warms. Natalie Muller and Neil King discuss the options in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Climate emergency: Keeping homes cool on a warming planet In many places, … Continue reading How to stay cool – sustainably
New McKinsey report says reaching net zero is vital to avoiding the most catastrophic impacts of global heating and the transformation becomes more expensive the longer action is delayed
In a new report by McKinsey, the global management consulting company, they look at the economic transformation that a transition to net-zero emissions would entail—a transformation that would affect all countries and all sectors of the economy, either directly or indirectly. Damian Carrington discusses the report in an article on The Guardian website. McKinsey: … Continue reading New McKinsey report says reaching net zero is vital to avoiding the most catastrophic impacts of global heating and the transformation becomes more expensive the longer action is delayed
African nations continue to hold the unenviable position of being disproportionately vulnerable to climate change
Margaret Kadiri, Lecturer in Physical Geography at King's College London writes on The Conversation website about the challenges faced by African countries in addressing climate change. Africa faces an uphill battle against western emissions to combat climate change The UN climate summit COP26, held in November 2021, focused the world’s attention on the urgent need … Continue reading African nations continue to hold the unenviable position of being disproportionately vulnerable to climate change
The potential for pairing wind turbines with technology that captures carbon dioxide directly from the air and stores it in natural reservoirs under the ocean
The marine geophysicist David Goldberg, Lamont Research Professor at Columbia University writes on The Conversation website about how wind farms could help capture carbon and store it long-term. What are your views? Offshore wind farms could help capture carbon from air and store it long-term – using energy that would otherwise go to waste … Continue reading The potential for pairing wind turbines with technology that captures carbon dioxide directly from the air and stores it in natural reservoirs under the ocean
The energy transition to net zero needs improved energy efficiency to succeed
In a recent event for the World Economic Forum, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA and Björn Rosengren, CEO of sustainability technology company ABB, discuss what needs to happen to improve energy efficiency and reach net zero. Their discussion is in an article on the European Sting website by Kate Whiting. Energy efficiency … Continue reading The energy transition to net zero needs improved energy efficiency to succeed
The construction sector is a major GHG emitter, so what can the industry do to cut CO2?
Millions of homes will need to be built for booming city populations in the coming decades. There are major challenges to minimise environmental damage and meet long-term energy and climate objectives. Some argue that tackling the climate crisis and meeting housing demands in cities will require a rethink of how space is used. Natalie Muller … Continue reading The construction sector is a major GHG emitter, so what can the industry do to cut CO2?
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 