New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans

Extending product lifespans helps reduce demand for new products and their related environmental impacts. This briefing aims to improve our understanding and provide novel insights on trends in product lifespans in Europe. This assessment is based on seven indicators developed specifically for the EEA’s Circularity Metrics Lab’s thematic module on product lifespans. Product lifespans — monitoring trends … Continue reading New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans →

Energy in Demand News, December 15, 2024

BP and Shell are scaling back electricity ambitions to escape the ‘valley of death,’ according to the Financial Times website (behind a paywall). Over the past five years, the two companies had spent a combined US$18 billion to be major players in electricity. But now Shell has sold its retail electricity business in Germany, the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 15, 2024 →

There is a definite global crackdown against climate activists

In an article on the Guardian website Nina Lakhani discusses how the global crackdown against climate activists and groups seems to be clearly part of the fossil fuel industry’s strategy to crush dissent and keep burning the planet. This follows an article by Damien Gayle on the Guardian website earlier this week showing that research … Continue reading There is a definite global crackdown against climate activists →

Serious challenges ahead in reducing emissions from tourism

In an article on The Conversation website, James Higham, Professor of Tourism, Griffith University and Ya-Yen Sun, Associate Professor, School of Business, The University of Queensland discuss what they call the most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of tourism emissions yet conducted. The concern is that global tourism emissions have been growing at double the rate … Continue reading Serious challenges ahead in reducing emissions from tourism →

One major bank in UK will factor in energy performance certificate ratings when deciding how much to lend to borrowers from this week

Emily Braeger writes on the iNews website about a change in lending policy from one of the major lenders in Britain. Those buying the most energy-efficient homes will be able to borrow slightly more than they would if their home had an average rating. Halifax also says those buying the least efficient properties will be … Continue reading One major bank in UK will factor in energy performance certificate ratings when deciding how much to lend to borrowers from this week →

US support for backing outstanding mortgages giving only vague guidance on climate-related catastrophe

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which backstop most U.S. mortgages, know floods and fires are a growing problem. But little action has been taken. Lydia DePillis discusses this growing issue in the US. One wonders how the new administration will deal with this issue? Mortgage Regulators Are Shrugging Off Climate Risk. It Could Cost … Continue reading US support for backing outstanding mortgages giving only vague guidance on climate-related catastrophe →

Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding

Anurag Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University writes on The Conversation about how utilities in the US are coping with AI data centres. What are your views. Is the experience similar in Europe and other regions? How utilities are working to meet AI data centers’ voracious appetite for electricity … Continue reading Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding →

What the EU Emissions Trading System can teach the world about a global carbon credit market

In an article on The Conversation website, Emre Tarim, Lecturer in Behavioural Sciences, Lancaster University writes about the lessons from the EU ETS, the world’s current largest scheme. A new global carbon trading market could be held hostage by speculators Our planet’s future hangs in the balance due to the unabated greenhouse gas emissions … Continue reading What the EU Emissions Trading System can teach the world about a global carbon credit market →

Latest study reveals is that governments and industry have taken the original concept of net zero and redefined it to the point where is it meaningless

Steve Hanley writes on the CleanTechnica website that the phrase “net zero” has been on the lips of every corporation, industry lobbyist, and politician, all promising they are working hard to do their part to avoid turning the planet we live on into a burnt cinder but understanding “net zero” is much more complicated and … Continue reading Latest study reveals is that governments and industry have taken the original concept of net zero and redefined it to the point where is it meaningless →

New EEA assessment on Europe’s air quality health impact

Just under 240,000 deaths per year in the European Union can be attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, a key air pollutant, according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality health impact assessment published this week as the new EU rules enter into force. The latest data also confirm, yet again, that … Continue reading New EEA assessment on Europe’s air quality health impact →