Author: Rod Janssen

Optimism is powerful but in discussing our environment some pessimism can also be a useful tool

So, what are you? An optimist or a pessimist? No, no need to answer. But it is good to think about this when discussing our approach to the environment. Dominic McAfee and Sean Connell from the University of Adelaide together with Zoe Doubleday of the University of South Australia explain their reasons in an article … Continue reading Optimism is powerful but in discussing our environment some pessimism can also be a useful tool →

Canada sees big opportunity in promoting electric buses

Our whole approach to mobility is changing as we see how electric vehicles can make a difference and that the technologies are advancing at such a rate, that the impact will significantly increase. Merran Smith and Dan Woynillowicz from Clean Energy Canada, a think tank at Simon Fraser University discusses the situation in Canada in … Continue reading Canada sees big opportunity in promoting electric buses →

It is amazing where we learn our lessons how to build more sustainable buildings

“We think humans are the best designers, but this is not really true,” a researcher said. JoAnna Klein writes in the New York Times about what termites can teach us about cooling buildings.   What Termites Can Teach Us About Cooling Our Buildings In the capital of Zimbabwe, a building called Eastgate Centre holds nearly … Continue reading It is amazing where we learn our lessons how to build more sustainable buildings →

Expansion of transmission lines in India planned to support growth in renewable energy

Sudarshan Varadhan and Nidhi Verma write on the Reuter’s website about the launch of new tenders in India to significant expand the electricity grid. This is certainly an important next step in India’s low-carbon energy transition. India seeks bids for $5 billion in transmission lines to fuel renewables growth India will launch $5 billion of … Continue reading Expansion of transmission lines in India planned to support growth in renewable energy →

Concerns about the energy transition in EU’s neighbours

At a time when the EU strives to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, coal still represents more than half of electricity across much of the Western Balkans and other EU neighbouring countries, writes Janez Kopač, director of the Energy Community Secretariat on the Euractiv website. Making things worse, coal plants are intensively supported … Continue reading Concerns about the energy transition in EU’s neighbours →

Concerns in Australia that climate change will affect its wine industry

Christopher Davies and Christine Bottcher at The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Canberra, Australia write on The Conversation website about the impact of climate change on its wine industry. If any EiD readers have evidence of this, please let us know. A warning for wine-lovers: climate change is messing with your favourite tipple's … Continue reading Concerns in Australia that climate change will affect its wine industry →

New report on China’s climate and energy policies

The fourth edition of the report “Mapping China’s Climate & Energy Policies” describes, maps and analyzes China’s national-level Party, government agencies, academic and research institutions, and state-affiliated enterprise climate actors in China on a policy by policy basis. The report is supported by the British Embassy in Beijing, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of … Continue reading New report on China’s climate and energy policies →

Latest update on adaptation finance

Beate Antonich from the SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the February update on global developments in adaptation finance.   Adaptation Finance Update: Number of Climate Adaptation Projects Increases, So Must Their Quality According to the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6), launched at the fourth session of the UN Environment … Continue reading Latest update on adaptation finance →

Smart phones for smart electricity systems

Throughout Africa, access to electricity has been a challenge. Increasingly, however, mobile phones are everywhere. Eduardo Alejandro Martínez Ceseña, Joseph Mutale, Mathaios Panteli and Pierluigi Mancarella from the University of Manchester write on The Conversation website   How data collected from mobile phones can help electricity planning Access to reliable and affordable electricity brings many … Continue reading Smart phones for smart electricity systems →