It could be a perilous decade for the Paris climate agreement

Recently Chile had to withdraw hosting the next climate conference due to domestic problems and thankfully Madrid will now host it. A recent Guardian article showed that of the 184 national Paris pledges made, 136 are judged insufficient. Then this week President Trump announced that the US will leave the Paris climate agreement at the … Continue reading It could be a perilous decade for the Paris climate agreement →

Toyota’s reputation at stake because it is not siding with California over fuel-efficiency standards

Toyota has spent decades cultivating an environmentally conscious reputation for pioneering the Prius, the first mass-market hybrid in the United States, along with other hybrid cars. Now that reputation may suffer because it has sided with the federal government against the government of California over stricter fuel efficiency standards for vehicles. Dino Grandoni explains in … Continue reading Toyota’s reputation at stake because it is not siding with California over fuel-efficiency standards →

Britain’s energy transition: the need to decarbonise its rail system

While trains are one of the most environmentally friendly forms of mass transport available, because new stock lasts many decades, there is a need to decarbonise as soon as possible in order to meet long-term. Marcus Mayers and David Bamford, both at Manchester Metropolitan University explain why and how it should be undertaken in an … Continue reading Britain’s energy transition: the need to decarbonise its rail system →

Lawsuit in US challenging federal government’s rollback on energy performance standards for light bulbs

The US federal government is actively rolling back on its energy and climate policies. Only this week President Trump confirmed it will leave the Paris climate agreement next year, the earliest date possible to withdraw. The federal government is also challenging California on fuel efficiency standards. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has now recently … Continue reading Lawsuit in US challenging federal government’s rollback on energy performance standards for light bulbs →

Air pollution in India is severe but has failed to become a major political issue so far

Of the world's 30 most polluted cities, 22 are in India. However, as Shivam Vij writes on the CNN website, there have been few demonstrations and it has not become a major political issue so far. Schools were shut and flights diverted. But air pollution still isn't a political issue in India As protesters … Continue reading Air pollution in India is severe but has failed to become a major political issue so far →

Breakthrough in solar energy could turn the average window into a source of heat and store energy

James Pero writes on the Daily Mail website that scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have made a breakthrough that could turn the average window into a source of heat and store energy captured by the sun's rays for decades Scientists discover extraordinary way to turn normal windows into emission-free solar panels … Continue reading Breakthrough in solar energy could turn the average window into a source of heat and store energy →

Getting messages out about climate change through comedy and humour

Maxwell Boykoff, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Director, Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado Boulder writes an article on The Conversation website that there is often good value in using humour to communicate about climate change. DO you agree? Leave 'em laughing instead of crying: Climate humor … Continue reading Getting messages out about climate change through comedy and humour →

Energy transition: so far the IEA has unfortunately failed to deliver real reform

The International Energy Agency and its annual World Energy Outlook have significant impact in our energy and climate policies. As one columnist for Bloomberg writes: the WEO is like “a map used by the people, companies and institutions planning and building the roads. If its scenarios point a certain way, then investments will be made … Continue reading Energy transition: so far the IEA has unfortunately failed to deliver real reform →

A Cork-based startup is aiming to tackle the dual problems of carbon emissions and fuel poverty with its software solution for housing providers

It is encouraging to see innovations to encourage more and better energy renovations. A news item on the Irish Examiner website explains the new innovations from one couple in Cork. Cork couple behind breakthrough for energy solutions in energy renovation projects A Cork-based startup is aiming to tackle the dual problems of carbon emissions … Continue reading A Cork-based startup is aiming to tackle the dual problems of carbon emissions and fuel poverty with its software solution for housing providers →

Comparing Sweden and British Columbia in terms of the climate urgency

Recently Greta Thunberg went to British Columbia to inspire some of the climate activists in that Canadian province. Taking inspiration from Greta, Barry Saxifrage wrote on the National Observer website comparing the province of British Columbia to Sweden in their efforts to reduce GHG emissions. It was certainly good to learn the word "flyskam.” You … Continue reading Comparing Sweden and British Columbia in terms of the climate urgency →