Mark Silberg writes on the Rocky Mountain Institute website that the US has to change its attitude towards using fossil fuels in buildings if there is any hope to meeting long-term climate goals. While this is about the US, no doubt this is equally true globally. What are your views? Fossil Gas Has No … Continue reading It will not be possible to meet climate goals without immediate and durable action on building fossil fuel use
Author: Rod Janssen
Canadian medical schools have not adequately addressed the urgent need for training related to planetary health and climate change
Brenna Owen writes on the National Newswatch website that medical students in Canada are calling for their education to now address the growing health effects of climate change. Is this also a rising concern in other countries? Canadian medical students call for better education on health and climate change Canadian medical schools have not … Continue reading Canadian medical schools have not adequately addressed the urgent need for training related to planetary health and climate change
Financing Europe’s green transition
This was a critical week for ensuring the European Union takes a more ambitious approach to the low-carbon energy transition. The European Commission unveiled a €1 trillion investment plan to fight climate change on Tuesday. The Commission proposals would dedicate around a quarter of the EU budget to the task. The proposal has already had … Continue reading Financing Europe’s green transition
Important rallying cry: “Never demolish, never remove or replace, always add, transform, and reuse!”
While the European Environment Agency recently published a briefing on construction and demolition waste, Oliver Wainwright writes on a similar theme in The Guardian of the need to never demolish another building. What are your views? The case for ... never demolishing another building The wrecking ball has always been the great symbol of … Continue reading Important rallying cry: “Never demolish, never remove or replace, always add, transform, and reuse!”
New EEA briefing on construction and demolition waste
Construction and demolition waste makes up just over one third of total waste generation in the EU. Despite relatively high recovery rates of used materials, Europe’s construction sector will need to be even more ambitious in its waste management practices if it is to fully embrace Europe’s circular economy. According to a European Environment Agency … Continue reading New EEA briefing on construction and demolition waste
Energy efficiency can play a big role in environmental justice
Ariadne Villegas, an NRDC fellow, writes about the important multiple benefits of improved energy efficiency. This blog was published on the Natural Resources Defense Council website. Energy Efficiency in NRDC’s Commitment to Environmental Justice The people most likely to live, work, learn, and play in some of America’s most polluted and climate vulnerable environments are … Continue reading Energy efficiency can play a big role in environmental justice
Book review on energy fables
Mithra Moezzi applauds this short, powerful book for revealing how many current energy discourses are framed and their limitations. The authors provide constructive, inspiring approaches that will help us to better understand and reframe energy practices, research and policies. The review was on the Buildings and cities website. Energy Fables: Challenging Ideas in the Energy Sector … Continue reading Book review on energy fables
Russia takes new approach to addressing climate change
A Kremlin website recognises global heating as a problem but lists ‘positive’ economic effects. A news item by Agence France-Presse in The Guardian explains some of the mitigation and adaptation efforts that are planned. Russia announces plan to ‘use the advantages’ of climate change Russia has published a plan to adapt its economy and … Continue reading Russia takes new approach to addressing climate change
Fukushima transforms itself into a renewable energy hub
Known for the 2011 nuclear meltdown, Fukushima has now vowed to power the region with 100% renewable energy by 2040, compared with 40% today. Justin McCurry explains in an article in The Guardian. Fukushima unveils plans to become renewable energy hub Fukushima is planning to transform itself into a renewable energy hub, almost nine … Continue reading Fukushima transforms itself into a renewable energy hub
The Green Deal is the EU’s “new defining mission”
The European Union has already invested so much of its political capital into the green transition that a failure to fulfill its promise to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 would severely damage its legitimacy. The Green Deal is not just one of many EU projects. It is the Union’s new defining mission. Jean Pisani-Ferry, a … Continue reading The Green Deal is the EU’s “new defining mission”
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 