The growing cost of climate-proofing France’s energy system

A news item on the IN Power website discusses how the state-owned electric utility, Electricité de France (EDF), plans major investment in resilience across French generation assets. The €8.7 billion programme covers nuclear, hydropower, and island operations through 2040. EDF assigns €8.7bn to French generation resilience IN Brief: EDF’s €8.7 billion plan covers nuclear, … Continue reading The growing cost of climate-proofing France’s energy system →

The climate has changed. Now our cities must change too

In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Sarah Steffen argues that climate adaptation is no longer optional: cities must redesign themselves for conditions that are already changing, while continuing to cut emissions. Western Europe has recorded its hottest-ever June and July, and extreme weather from drought to storms is here to stay. How can … Continue reading The climate has changed. Now our cities must change too →

The new energy security: less waste, more resilience

Deborah Gordon and Marko Solomon write on the RMI (formerly the Rocky Mountain Institute) website that that energy security, economic security and climate security can no longer be treated separately—and that efficiency, finance, policy and electrification need to work together. Bolstering Energy, Economic, and Environmental Security in a Warming World: Learnings from London Climate … Continue reading The new energy security: less waste, more resilience →

Energy in Demand News, August 9-10, 2026

The US-Iran war is encouraging a global switch to clean energy. Noah Gordon, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace describes in the Financial Times the positive transition to clean energy: “With a significant proportion of global supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas bottled up in the Strait of Hormuz since the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 9-10, 2026 →

New report on meeting New York City’s energy demand challenge

A new report, Meeting New York City’s Energy Demand Challenge, from New York City Comptroller Mark Levine recommends that the city adopt a strategy in which city-owned property doubles as an energy asset capable of generating electricity, storing energy, supporting electric vehicle charging, participating in energy markets, and strengthening neighbourhood resilience. In other words, the … Continue reading New report on meeting New York City’s energy demand challenge →

Energy in Demand News, August 2-3, 2026

Frank Elderson, a member of the European Central Bank’s executive board, told the Guardian that the climate emergency and the breakdown of nature poses a dramatically growing risk to the global economy. He said it was clear the rising frequency of natural disasters linked to global heating poses a threat to financial stability. “Nature-related risks … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 2-3, 2026 →

Roads built for yesterday’s climate

Using Germany as an example, Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website argues that infrastructure designed for yesterday's climate is no longer fit for tomorrow's temperatures. As the Autobahn buckles under heat waves, Germany is still paving roads for a past climate. Engineers know how to fix that — so what's the holdup? … Continue reading Roads built for yesterday’s climate →

Energy in Demand News, July 26-27, 2026

As this week’s Energy in Demand was being prepared, more than 280,000 people had been ordered to flee or lock down as huge wildfires swept Spain and France, prompting Madrid to declare a national emergency and the French authorities to order the total evacuation, by land and sea, of one of the country’s best-known holiday … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 26-27, 2026 →

A medieval heatwave, a modern warning

Alex Brown, Associate Professor of Medieval History, Durham University writes on The Conversation website about the lessons we should learn from the Medieval Warm Period. History shows societies are vulnerable to climate extremes, while today's warming is faster, global and human-driven. Drought, water shortages and crop failures: how does the medieval warm period compare … Continue reading A medieval heatwave, a modern warning →

Energy in Demand News, July 19-20, 2026

The EU has big plans to electrify. It has set its first-ever electrification target: 46% by 2040. Electrification has hovered just under 24% for more than a decade. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen told reporters in Brussels on Friday: “With this plan, we are putting Europe on a course to become the world’s first electro-continent.” Check … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 19-20, 2026 →