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
Category: adaptation
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
Building homes for a hotter world
Julia Vergin writes on the Deutsche Welle website about how buildings must adapt to a hotter climate, rather than simply surviving individual heatwaves. The emphasis is on passive cooling, better design, and climate-resilient construction. In Germany, it is time to rethink and rebuild. Many apartments were not designed for heat waves. Fortunately, there are ways … Continue reading Building homes for a hotter world
Energy in Demand News, July 5-6, 2026
In Canada this week, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen urged decisive action by quoting a famous hockey credo: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." The Trump administration is moving to gut energy efficiency rules for home appliances that are proven to cut demand for power and lower utility bills. The Washington Post … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 5-6, 2026
The oil shock is a wake-up call for car-dependent cities
Christopher J. Greyson-Gaito, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McMaster University writes on The Conversation website about using the oil price shock as a wake-up call to build more resilient, less car-dependent cities. Oil price shocks have exposed car‑dependent cities. Here’s what governments can doThe recent Israeli-United States war with Iran sent oil … Continue reading The oil shock is a wake-up call for car-dependent cities
Extreme heat is becoming Europe’s biggest climate challenge
In an article on The Conversation website, Javier Martín Vide, Catedrático de Geografía Física, Universitat de Barcelona, writes about Europe's growing vulnerability to extreme heat and the urgent need to adapt cities, buildings and public health systems to a hotter climate. 40°C in Paris: extreme summer heat is no longer exceptional for most of … Continue reading Extreme heat is becoming Europe’s biggest climate challenge
Reflections on the IEA’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency was definitely front and centre for many this week, starting with the International Energy Agency’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Montreal, June 29-30th. There were around 600 attendees from 60 countries. There were 40 ministers or heads of delegations, with about 25 at the ministerial level. There were about 70 … Continue reading Reflections on the IEA’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
Energy in Demand News, June 28-29, 2026
The Financial Times reports that Elon Musk’s SpaceX “was awarded the lowest possible environmental, social and governance rating by index provider MSCI [Morgan Stanley Capital International] ahead of the company’s record $75bn public float this month. The triple C assessment means SpaceX has the same score as that awarded to the Russian state on MSCI’s … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 28-29, 2026
