Sustainable development starts with our health

An EiD follower recently wrote that this article about men’s health is vitally important for EiD readers. It isn’t on energy but it certainly covers sustainable development that is important to all of us. Erin Brokovich, the well-known an American legal clerk and environmental activist, writes on The Guardian website that toxic chemicals are harming … Continue reading Sustainable development starts with our health →

The climate crisis can never be solved by today’s free markets

Dominic Rushe writes on The Guardian website about the views of Tariq Fancy, the former chief investment officer for sustainable investing at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. But for Fancy, who now runs the digital learning non-profit Rumie in Toronto, Canada, BlackRock’s move, and the ones it has inspired, contain a fundamental flaw: the … Continue reading The climate crisis can never be solved by today’s free markets →

One way to reduce transport emissions relatively quickly, and potentially globally, is to swap cars for cycling, e-biking and walking

There is growing awareness that a new approach to travel is seriously needed. This is particularly true because transport is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise due to its heavy fossil fuel use and reliance on carbon-intensive infrastructure. Christian Brand, Associate Professor in Transport, Energy & Environment, Transport Studies Unit at the University … Continue reading One way to reduce transport emissions relatively quickly, and potentially globally, is to swap cars for cycling, e-biking and walking →

A small minority take the lion’s share of flights across countries with the highest aviation emissions

In almost every country studied, less than half of the population flies every year. Instead, most trips are taken by a small minority of “frequent fliers”. In the UK, alone, about 70 per cent of flights are taken by just 15 per cent of the population. Daisy Dunne discusses a recent report on this by … Continue reading A small minority take the lion’s share of flights across countries with the highest aviation emissions →

Four guiding principles can help build the political support needed to meet North America’s new-found climate ambition

While there are many positive signs that North America is taking climate change more seriously, there still is significant scepticism that needs to be overcome. Sarah Sharma, PhD Candidate, International Relations at Queen's University, Ontario and Matthew Hoffmann, Professor of Political Science and Co-Director Environmental Governance Lab, University of Toronto discuss what steps should be … Continue reading Four guiding principles can help build the political support needed to meet North America’s new-found climate ambition →

Draft decision in Australia for households and small business with solar panels pay to inject their surplus production into the grid raises concerns

Australian households with rooftop solar panels could be charged for exporting electricity into the power grid at times when it is not needed under proposed changes to the national electricity market. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre at Victoria University writes on The Conversation website that this could prove to be a big mistake … Continue reading Draft decision in Australia for households and small business with solar panels pay to inject their surplus production into the grid raises concerns →

Is hydrogen the silver bullet for reaching net zero emissions?

Tom Baxter, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Aberdeen asks an important question in an article on The Conversation website: hydrogen presents a compelling case for its widespread use to support net zero. So, what’s not to like about it? With the UK coming out with its hydrogen strategy soon, Baxter … Continue reading Is hydrogen the silver bullet for reaching net zero emissions? →

35 million time bomb: what’s up with the EU Renovation Wave?

I feel like a broken record. Every time I’m with a group related to energy and climate, the discussion obviously gets to meeting our long-term objectives. That is quite understandable. But while we discuss where we want to go in general terms we are much more uncomfortable talking about how to get there. For example, … Continue reading 35 million time bomb: what’s up with the EU Renovation Wave? →

Don’t scrap Energy Performance Certificates – redesign them like a food label

Elmhurst Energy, the UK's largest accreditation scheme for energy assessors, gives its views on how EPCs should be re-designed in Britain. What are your views? Don’t scrap EPCs, but redesign them to show cost, carbon AND energy metrics, says Elmhurst Energy MPs shouldn’t misunderstand the fundamental value of EPCs But new opportunities could transform … Continue reading Don’t scrap Energy Performance Certificates – redesign them like a food label →

Incoming OECD Secretary-General presented with opportunity to change his record on climate change

If former Australian finance minister Mathias Cormann is to match the climate ambition of the OECD’s biggest member states, his future behaviour will have to be very different to that of his past behaviour. Christian Downie, Associate professor at the Australian National University discusses how Cormann can change in an article on The Conversation website. … Continue reading Incoming OECD Secretary-General presented with opportunity to change his record on climate change →