Author: Rod Janssen

London’s world-famous black cabs are major polluters

When one visits London, there is nothing but amazement for the ubiquitous black cabs. While there are moves to have more electric vehicles, at this point in time they are still major polluters.  Harry Cockburn explains in an article on The Independent website. London’s black cabs ‘up to thirty times as toxic as personal cars … Continue reading London’s world-famous black cabs are major polluters →

World Sustainable Energy Days: Industry comes into focus

World Sustainable Energy Days has been an annual event in late February or early March for over 20 years in Wels, Austria. I’ve attended several of them as a speaker, panel leader or member of the scientific committee for the Young Researchers event. WSED brings hundreds of people together with a wide variety of conferences … Continue reading World Sustainable Energy Days: Industry comes into focus →

It’s time to take a clear-eyed look at the science behind the increasing number of weather events due to climate change — the political science

Politics drives so much of our reaction to climate change impacts.  Charles Lane provides a good article on the Washington Post website that you should enjoy.   It’s time to look at the (political) science behind climate change This year, California recorded its deadliest wildfire in state history. The combined intensity and duration of the … Continue reading It’s time to take a clear-eyed look at the science behind the increasing number of weather events due to climate change — the political science →

With climate change, low energy prices cause problems

There are many who have said that prices need to work for the environment but what do you do when oil prices remain so low that they provide no incentive for energy efficiency improvements? Yes, one can tax but government after government has had a hard time doing that.  One can just ask President Macron … Continue reading With climate change, low energy prices cause problems →

Climate change seen as one of the factors for loss of many of the world’s languages

It is amazing that there are about 7,000 languages spoken globally.  However, many are expected to die out this century. Anastasia Riehl, Director of the Strathy Language Unit at Queen's University in Ontario explains in an article on The Conversation website why many of them will be lost because of the impact of climate change. … Continue reading Climate change seen as one of the factors for loss of many of the world’s languages →

Thailand’s energy transition plans raise concerns

Pratch Rujivanarom writes on The Nation website about concerns raised by Greenpeace about the impact of Thailand’s Power Development Plans.   Power plan ‘a setback for sustainable energy’ Environmental watchdog Greenpeace has called Thailand’s Power Development Plan 2018 (PDP) “sugar-coated” despite its embrace of more renewable energy, saying it still hinders efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas … Continue reading Thailand’s energy transition plans raise concerns →

Impact of carbon emissions on our concentration and decision-making

There is much concern that rising levels of carbon dioxide could affect concentration and decision-making of global workforce according to new research. Adam Forrest explains in an article on the Independent website.   Climate change likely to make us more stupid, study finds Rising carbon dioxide emissions could cause a decline in the brainpower of … Continue reading Impact of carbon emissions on our concentration and decision-making →

Looking at the financial community and the low-carbon energy transition

Remember the financial crisis ten years ago?  You have to. Our low carbon energy transition needs significant financing if we are to achieve our Paris climate objectives. Tomaso Ferrando, Lecturer in Law from the University of Bristol writes on The Conversation website that we need to put everything into perspective.   COP24: ten years on … Continue reading Looking at the financial community and the low-carbon energy transition →

New report on 50 “climate solutions” in cities throughout China

Adam Fishman from the SDG Knowledge Hub at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains about an interesting new report from the Asian Development Bank on climate solutions in Chinese cities.   ADB Highlights 50 Climate Solutions in China’s Cities A report launched by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) outlines 50 “climate solutions” in … Continue reading New report on 50 “climate solutions” in cities throughout China →