Rumina Dhalla and Felix Arndt from the University of Guelph in Canada write on The Conversation website about the confusion over what makes a company sustainable. Sustainability rankings don't always identify sustainable companies British American Tobacco (famous for cigarettes), Coca-Cola (world-renowned for its sugary soft drinks) and Glencore (a British/Swiss mining company) were recently … Continue reading Sustainability criteria making it challenging for consumers and investors to make fully informed decisions
Author: Rod Janssen
Fitting giant sails to cargo ships could reduce their GHG emissions by at least 30 %
Graeme Paton writes on The Times website about the GHG emissions that could be reduced by retrofitting sails on ships. The UK government announced this week that emissions from international shipping would be included in the UK’s climate change targets so obviously people are looking at creative ways to mitigate emissions. Attaching giant sails … Continue reading Fitting giant sails to cargo ships could reduce their GHG emissions by at least 30 %
Improved energy efficiency has important role in our energy transition
Reaching the net zero targets announced by countries around the world isn’t just about generating cleaner energy: it will also require significant improvements in making our energy use more efficient. These issues are discussed in an article on the Open Access Government website The role of energy efficiency in achieving net zero targets Energy … Continue reading Improved energy efficiency has important role in our energy transition
Efforts underway in Germany to increase the demand for energy-efficient buildings
Alice Boldis and Christian Lütkehaus write on the Pinsent Mason website about recent developments in Germany that should increase the demand for more energy-efficient buildings. What are your views? New carbon price makes energy efficiency in the German building sector even more important Heating oil will soon become more expensive for consumers in Germany … Continue reading Efforts underway in Germany to increase the demand for energy-efficient buildings
The obvious dangers of the concept of net zero
James Dyke, Senior Lecturer in Global Systems, University of Exeter; Robert Watson, Emeritus Professor in Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia; and Wolfgang Knorr, Senior Research Scientist, Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University bring their more than 80 years thinking about climate change to discuss their views on the concept of net zero in … Continue reading The obvious dangers of the concept of net zero
‘Whitest ever’ paint reflects 98% of sunlight
Scientists in the US have developed a paint significantly "whiter than the whitest paint currently available". Tests carried out by researchers at Purdue University on their "ultra-white" paint showed it reflected more than 98% of sunlight. That suggests, the scientists say, that it could help save energy and fight climate change. Damian Carrington discusses the … Continue reading ‘Whitest ever’ paint reflects 98% of sunlight
COVID-19 has helped researchers better understand the relationship between economic activity and the environment
Although COVID-19 itself, and the associated containment measures, have had tragic consequences for societies, it also serves as an unprecedented natural experiment that helps us to better understand the relationship between economic activity and the environment. Frederik Noack, Assistant Professor, environmental economics, University of British Columbia; Dominic Rohner, Professor of Economics, Université de Lausanne; and … Continue reading COVID-19 has helped researchers better understand the relationship between economic activity and the environment
Bitcoin and other digital currencies come with astonishing environmental costs
The company’s stock market arrival establishes Bitcoin and other digital currencies in the traditional financial landscape. It also elevates a technology with astonishing environmental costs. Hiroko Tabuchi discusses the energy implications in an article on the New York Times website. In Coinbase’s Rise, a Reminder: Cryptocurrencies Use Lots of Energy The stock market debut … Continue reading Bitcoin and other digital currencies come with astonishing environmental costs
Coverage of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy: Working Group on the Energy Transition
The High-Level Dialogue on Energy is the first global gathering on energy under the auspices of the UN General Assembly since the UN Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy in 1981. Second meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Energy Transition The second meeting of the Technical Working Group on the … Continue reading Coverage of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy: Working Group on the Energy Transition
Would a carbon border tax be effective as a tool as countries try to slow climate change?
Timothy Hamilton, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Richmond in the United States discusses on The Conversation website the potential impact of the border adjustment carbon tax that the EU is considering. What are your views? The EU wants a carbon tax on imports – but would it be the climate solution officials expect? … Continue reading Would a carbon border tax be effective as a tool as countries try to slow climate change?
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 