Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025

It was certainly disappointing that the UN negotiations for a global treaty on plastics pollution collapsed without an agreement. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and a number of other petrostates would not budge from their long-standing refusal to agree measures that address the production of plastic, agreeing only to waste management. It is not clear when negotiations … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025 →

Progress towards a legally binding global treaty on plastics pollution stalled and went into reverse this week

In an article on The Conversation website, Melanie MacGregor, ARC Future Fellow and Matthew Flinders Fellow in Chemistry, Flinders University gives her views on what happened in Geneva the last two weeks. The global plastics treaty process has fallen flat. Here’s what went wrong, and how you can help Progress towards a legally binding … Continue reading Progress towards a legally binding global treaty on plastics pollution stalled and went into reverse this week →

An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method

In Tübingen, Germany, TriqBriq is creating eco‑friendly homes from modular wooden blocks made with recycled materials, offering a low‑carbon alternative to concrete. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Julia Mielke discusses the scheme. Eco-friendly homes from wooden building blocks A German city is building an eco-friendly public housing scheme using an innovative … Continue reading An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method →

The benefits of improved energy efficiency for the nonprofit sector

Tina Bennett, CEO of Power Options, writes on the facilitiesnet website about the benefits of improved energy efficiency for nonprofits. By taking a proactive approach to energy management, nonprofits can continue fulfilling their missions, even in uncertain financial environments. Energy should no longer be treated as a fixed cost, but as a variable that should … Continue reading The benefits of improved energy efficiency for the nonprofit sector →

New report from the IEA 4E Technology Collaboration Programme

The IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on Energy Efficient End-Use Equipment (4E TCP) has published the report, System-level Energy Efficiency Policy Modelling and Monitoring. This report explores opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of systems using modelling and monitoring in regulations. The research methodology involved literature searches of potential example system regulations in areas such as … Continue reading New report from the IEA 4E Technology Collaboration Programme →

US EPA’s decision to stop supporting the research that hundreds of companies use to calculate their GHG emissions as “a major setback for corporate climate action and reporting”

Harry Stevens writes on the New York Times website about one of the most effective and popular databases would stop to be updated. The database helps companies calculate their GHG emissions. Its creator left the EPA after being investigated for criticizing the Trump administration. Popular E.P.A. Database Is in Limbo Amid Science Cuts The … Continue reading US EPA’s decision to stop supporting the research that hundreds of companies use to calculate their GHG emissions as “a major setback for corporate climate action and reporting” →

So, which climate policies do you favour?

Wouter Poortinga, Professor of Environmental Psychology, Cardiff University writes on The Conversation website about why some climate policies are more popular than others. What are your views? Why some climate policies are more popular than others – a psychologist explains Despite growing concern about climate change, many countries have seen backlashes against certain environmental policies, … Continue reading So, which climate policies do you favour? →

Blog by Rose Morrison – Thermal envelope innovations: breaking the R-value ceiling in modern construction

https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-wooden-building-on-green-grass-field-during-daytime-IicTi83wpXA Low-carbon goals should remain critical to the construction industry because they are among the most damaging to the environment. Finding optimisations in thermal envelopes and R-value is critical for setting standards for the future of net-zero buildings. Experts are constantly researching new technologies to boost potential and cut emissions by streamlining energy efficiency. What … Continue reading Blog by Rose Morrison – Thermal envelope innovations: breaking the R-value ceiling in modern construction →

Will Trump administration cutbacks on research affect the roll out of sustainable aviation fuels?

In an article on The Conversation website, Li Qiao, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University discusses the concerns about meeting the targets for the aviation industry to decarbonise its fuels. Inside the search for sustainable aviation fuels, which are on the federal chopping block The federal spending law passed in early July 2025, … Continue reading Will Trump administration cutbacks on research affect the roll out of sustainable aviation fuels? →

UN plastics treaty talks fail after US joins petrostates in blocking action

Writing on the Climate Home News website, Matteo Civillini discusses the collapse of the final round of UN talks to reach a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution after three years of negotiations, dealing a blow to multilateral decision-making. The UN talks ran into overtime, ending with a standoff over whether a treaty should … Continue reading UN plastics treaty talks fail after US joins petrostates in blocking action →