British climate activists stuck in Kosovo because of the coronavirus pandemic, having refused evacuation flight back home

The coronavirus crisis is affecting all of us in different ways. Visar Kryeziu writes for The Associated Press on the National Newswatch website about one couple who are stuck in Kosovo because of refusing to get on an evacuation flight. What would you have done? UK climate activists stranded in historic town in Kosovo … Continue reading British climate activists stuck in Kosovo because of the coronavirus pandemic, having refused evacuation flight back home →

Some utilities are employing AI and machine learning to address the windfalls and fluctuations in energy usage resulting from COVID-19

We are often reading about new applications for artificial intelligence. Kyle Wiggers writes on the Venture Beat website about how AI is being used to address the windfalls and fluctuations in energy usage resulting from COVID-19. How utilities are using AI to adapt to electricity demands The spread of the novel coronavirus that causes … Continue reading Some utilities are employing AI and machine learning to address the windfalls and fluctuations in energy usage resulting from COVID-19 →

France’s energy transition: planning for 40 per cent renewables in the power sector by 2030

For a country that has relied on nuclear power for decades, it is interesting to see how its energy transition has evolved. France has recently submitted its final 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan to the European Commission, with an aim for 1/3rd renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030. Ayush Verma explains in … Continue reading France’s energy transition: planning for 40 per cent renewables in the power sector by 2030 →

Estimating the number of lives saved due to the spectacular drop in air pollution

A European research centre has calculated that the levels of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles fell by 40% and 10% respectively in April. In France, 1,230 deaths have been prevented. Stéphane Mandard explains in an article on Le Monde website. By reducing air pollution, isolation would have saved 11,000 deaths in Europe in one … Continue reading Estimating the number of lives saved due to the spectacular drop in air pollution →

The European banking sector has made sluggish progress on tackling the climate crisis in the last three years

According to new research by responsible investment organisation ShareAction, the European banking sector has made sluggish progress on tackling the climate crisis in the last three years. The European Union institutions have been actively trying to bring in the financial institutions to play a bigger role in financing needed low-carbon energy initiatives. One is the … Continue reading The European banking sector has made sluggish progress on tackling the climate crisis in the last three years →

If there is something positive to take from this terrible crisis, it could be that it’s offered a taste of the air we might breathe in a low-carbon future

Since the virus crisis started, air quality has improved because of the drastic drop in GHG emissions. Paul Monks, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Earth Observation Science at the University of Leicester writes on The Conversation website that the pandemic could show us how the future might look with less air pollution, or it may … Continue reading If there is something positive to take from this terrible crisis, it could be that it’s offered a taste of the air we might breathe in a low-carbon future →

Does cycling during the coronavirus pandemic make sense?

Cycling has many great benefits for our mental and physical wellbeing, and is allowed in the government rules, but concerns have been raised that this cyclists could be flouting government guidelines and potentially spreading the virus farther afield. Lawrence Ostlere discusses the issues in an article on The Independent website. What are your views? Update: … Continue reading Does cycling during the coronavirus pandemic make sense? →

Strong argument for renovating homes in America’s Great Lakes region

Increasingly, arguments are being made that strategies to encourage renovation of buildings to address climate change. Nicholas Rajkovich, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York explains in an article on The Conversation website the many benefits from renovating buildings. To protect people in the Great Lakes … Continue reading Strong argument for renovating homes in America’s Great Lakes region →

Germany’s energy transition increasingly seen to be key to the economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic

Freja Eriksen and Julian Wettengel write on the Clean Energy Wire about the importance given to the energy transition in Germany as a means to have the country recover from the serious economic impacts of the crisis. German states and utilities say Energiewende central to economic recovery The energy transition must remain high on … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition increasingly seen to be key to the economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic →

Low carbon energy transition making some progress in Europe

Austria and Sweden have each unplugged their last coal-fired power station from the grid. This is a major step forward in the low-carbon energy transition. Encouragingly, at least a dozen more European nations plan to abandon coal power by the end of the decade. Now let’s see if that can happen more quickly. Oliver Moody … Continue reading Low carbon energy transition making some progress in Europe →