New EEA report on ensuring justice in sustainability transitions in Europe

As Europe strives to lower greenhouse gas emissions and decouple economic growth from resource consumption, various social groups and regions face unequal challenges. According to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) published this week, ensuring justice in sustainability transitions requires combining corrective measures to address potentially regressive social consequences of the green transition … Continue reading New EEA report on ensuring justice in sustainability transitions in Europe →

Energy in Demand, November 3, 2024

A piece of good news about electric vehicles. In Florida, EVs exhibited an unexpected side benefit during Hurricane Milton, according to Energy Changemakers (behind a paywall). Before Milton made landfall on October 9, Florida resident Paul Fosse reported in CleanTechnica that public charging stations were readily available to EV drivers in the days preceding Milton, even … Continue reading Energy in Demand, November 3, 2024 →

High school students in US gain big win in pushing for fossil fuel divestment in private high schools

Aliya Uteuova and Dharna Noor write on the Guardian website about how a high school in California has decided not to invest in coal, oil or gas, instead pledging to put money into clean energy. It’s the latest win in a new fossil fuel divestment campus campaign launched by high schoolers across 11 countries that … Continue reading High school students in US gain big win in pushing for fossil fuel divestment in private high schools →

The annual market survey from the California Association of Realtors shows that problems with property insurance are worsening

The California Climate Politico newsletter writes about the problems in California to find affordable house insurance. Major insurers remain skittish on California after pulling back amid high wildfire losses. Are you seeing this trend in your country? California insurance woes sunk twice as many home sales this year, realtors say More and more homebuyers … Continue reading The annual market survey from the California Association of Realtors shows that problems with property insurance are worsening →

“Seeing climate experts’ fears and opinions about the climate crisis as irrelevant suggests science is separate from society and ultimately weakens it”

Damian Carrington writes on the Guardian website that climate scientists that have been criticised and gaslighted after sharing fears say acknowledging feelings is critical to their work. ‘We have emotions too’: Climate scientists respond to attacks on objectivity Climate scientists who were mocked and gaslighted after speaking up about their fears for the future … Continue reading “Seeing climate experts’ fears and opinions about the climate crisis as irrelevant suggests science is separate from society and ultimately weakens it” →

Germany’s coal consumption continued its downward trend in 2024

Julian Wettengel writes on the Reneweconomy website about the continuing trend in Germany to reduce its dependency on coal. German coal use plunges nearly 40 per cent in 2024, despite nuclear exit Germany’s coal consumption continued its downward trend in 2024, helping to reduce the country’s climate-damaging CO2 emissions, said energy market research group … Continue reading Germany’s coal consumption continued its downward trend in 2024 →

Private investments in adaptation are likely to be significantly underestimated as a result of the colossal challenge in tracking them

Matteo Civillini writes on the Climate Change News website about the difficulties in estimating how much businesses are spending on adaptation. Businesses may be investing more in climate adaptation than we think Measures to adapt to climate change are often seen as the Cinderella of climate action – largely ignored and under-funded, garnering only … Continue reading Private investments in adaptation are likely to be significantly underestimated as a result of the colossal challenge in tracking them →

In Shakespeare’s England extreme weather pamphlets publicised tragic effects of earthquakes, floods and storms, much like our media today

Madeline Bassnett, Professor of Early Modern English Literature, Western University and Laurie Johnson, Professor in English Literature and Cultural Studies, University of Southern Queensland write on The Conversation about the parallels between now’s weather extremes and Shakespeare’s day in terms of England’s Little Ice Age. New insights from Shakespeare’s England reveal striking parallels to … Continue reading In Shakespeare’s England extreme weather pamphlets publicised tragic effects of earthquakes, floods and storms, much like our media today →

“Spain’s deadliest floods in decades are another harrowing reminder that Europe is unprepared for the consequences of a superheated atmosphere”

Karl Mathiesen, Aitor Hernández-Morales and Zia Weise write on the Politico website about Europe’s lack of preparedness for the climate-related disasters. Spain’s ‘monster’ floods expose Europe’s unpreparedness for climate change The warnings arrived after the waters had already begun to rise. Spain’s deadliest floods in decades are another harrowing reminder that Europe is unprepared … Continue reading “Spain’s deadliest floods in decades are another harrowing reminder that Europe is unprepared for the consequences of a superheated atmosphere” →

SDGs are increasingly being used to reinforce existing practices, rather than genuinely addressing societal issues

In an article on The Conversation website, Felix Arndt, John F. Wood Chair in Entrepreneurship, University of Guelph and Christiaan Röell, Lecturer, UNSW Business School, UNSW Sydney discuss how businesses can easily misuse SDGs as a mere signal of good intention without needing to take them seriously. Businesses are leveraging the UN Sustainable Development … Continue reading SDGs are increasingly being used to reinforce existing practices, rather than genuinely addressing societal issues →