Adaptation or mitigation? It’s a false choice — we need both

Natural disasters due to climate change are sadly becoming a regular occurrence in Canada. The forest fires in the north are causing endless problems and there is no end in sight. In an article on the CBC News website, Aaron Wherry argues that urgent action is needed. While this is an example from Canada, many … Continue reading Adaptation or mitigation? It’s a false choice — we need both →

Energy in Demand News, July 21, 2024

The energy transition is proving to be quite a challenge. This week, the New York Times (behind a paywall) wondered why the oil industry is booming. High prices and growing demand have helped US oil producers take in record profits despite global efforts to spur greater use of renewable energy and electric cars. The article … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 21, 2024 →

Protecting London a matter of ‘national security’ if extreme weather hits

Protecting London from extreme weather is a matter of “national security”, according to an independent report, which found that flooding, drought and wildfires were putting the UK capital’s economy and citizens at risk. The review says capital needs new reservoir, better flood defences and ‘heat plan’ for vulnerable people. Fiona Harvey discusses the findings of … Continue reading Protecting London a matter of ‘national security’ if extreme weather hits →

Tackling climate change and its consequences needs urgent investment

Moazzam Malik, managing director at the World Resources Institute and honorary professor at the UCL Policy Lab writes on the Climate Home News website, stating that a new global deal on financing is needed. He argues that a more effective framework led by the UN could involve a binding financial target, a role for emerging … Continue reading Tackling climate change and its consequences needs urgent investment →

Energy in Demand, July 7, 2024

The Financial Times columnist, Martin Wolf, argued this week (behind a paywall) that market forces are not enough to halt climate change. He notes that our efforts to decarbonise are going poorly. Furthermore, people just do not want to pay the price of decarbonising the economy. In explaining the global rise in electricity from fossil … Continue reading Energy in Demand, July 7, 2024 →

Energy in Demand News, June 23, 2024

There is more evidence that the corporate world is dropping or missing goals to cut GHG emissions. In an article in the Financial Times (behind a paywall), it is mentioned that large corporations such as Unilever, the Bank of America and Shell have “in the past year dropped or missed goals to cut emissions or … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 23, 2024 →

New discussion paper on opportunities and priorities for climate adaptation in the built environment in the EU

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has recently published a new discussion paper on adaptation in the built environment. A holistic approach to climate-resilience is needed to reduce the risk of maladaptation, ensure Just Resilience and exploit synergies of adaptation and mitigation efforts at all levels of governance. Just Resilience involves addressing the unequal distribution … Continue reading New discussion paper on opportunities and priorities for climate adaptation in the built environment in the EU →

How global warming is already impacting sport, and how the sports world can fight back

Tanya Aldred writes on the Guardian website about a new book about how global warming is playing out on fields, courts, and golf greens across the world. The author, Madeleine Orr is quoted: “I’m very alarmed by everybody’s lack of alarm, that’s the scariest thing for me.” Sport and the climate emergency: collating injustice … Continue reading How global warming is already impacting sport, and how the sports world can fight back →

Climate change is affecting wine producers everywhere but farmers producing prosecco in Italy have been plunged into crisis mode

In an article by Ajit Niranjan on the Guardian website, farmers and researchers tell of the impact of a rapidly changing climate, and the measures being taken to adapt. From parched earth to landslides: crisis in the prosecco hills of Italy Paola Ferraro marches through the neat grids of vines that chequer the slopes … Continue reading Climate change is affecting wine producers everywhere but farmers producing prosecco in Italy have been plunged into crisis mode →

Energy in Demand, May 26, 2024

With elections for the European Parliament approaching on June 6-9, predictions are for a surge of right wing parties and a consequent erosion of the climate and energy agenda. According to The Economist election tracker, “the environment, including terms such as “climate change”, is a hot topic on the continent’s fringes: it’s most often searched … Continue reading Energy in Demand, May 26, 2024 →