Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

This weekend sees the first of three sessions of the European Citizens' Energy Efficiency Panel in Brussels with 150 European citizens discussing how energy may be used in the EU and how the energy system should change. Participants are focusing on different aspects of energy efficiency that consumers might encounter at home, in communities or … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

Meeting Hannah Ritchie: the ‘techno-realist’ discusses climate change

In an article on the CBC News website, Sheena Goodyear interviews Hannah Ritchie, a University of Oxford data and environmental scientist, who calls for ‘urgent optimism’ in her newly published book Not The End of the World.   This scientist was paralyzed by the threat of climate change. How she found hope It's hard to … Continue reading Meeting Hannah Ritchie: the ‘techno-realist’ discusses climate change

NATO’s commitment to overcoming the challenges of energy efficiency and sustainability in military operations

Ivan Mactaggart writes on the Karve International website about the efforts of military to ensure its sustainability. Readers should note that there is also a good article on energy security from January on the NATO website.   The Challenges of Energy Efficiency & Sustainability To Military Technology Military sectors of all major nations are significant … Continue reading NATO’s commitment to overcoming the challenges of energy efficiency and sustainability in military operations

Climate activism – “there is a method to the seeming madness”

In an article on The Conversation website, Shannon Gibson, Associate Professor of International Relations and Environmental Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences writes about the “wild ride” climate activism has been on lately.   From throwing soup to suing governments, there’s strategy to climate activism’s seeming chaos − here’s where it’s headed … Continue reading Climate activism – “there is a method to the seeming madness”

The richest 10% are responsible for half of all global emissions

Carbon emissions of richest 10% are up to 40 times bigger than poorest, and ignoring divide may make ending climate crisis impossible, experts say. Damian Carrington discusses recent analysis in an article on the Guardian website.   Revealed: the huge climate impact of the middle classes The richest 10% of people in many countries cause … Continue reading The richest 10% are responsible for half of all global emissions

Climate textbooks removed from Texas state science curriculum

Although Texas adopted standards in 2021 that requires eighth-graders be taught the basics about climate change, some argue that measure does not go far enough. Republican board member condemns photos in some textbooks for being unfairly critical of oil and gas industry. Texas’s Republican-controlled education board voted on Friday not to include several climate textbooks … Continue reading Climate textbooks removed from Texas state science curriculum

“Regardless of an individual’s stated environmental opinion and beliefs most opted for the easiest, but least impactful options”

In an article on The Conversation website, Alice Brock and Ian Williams of the University of Southampton discuss how too many of us, while aware of climate change and its impact, are simply too complacent to take effective action. Do you agree with them?   Climate complacency: study finds even the most informed people would … Continue reading “Regardless of an individual’s stated environmental opinion and beliefs most opted for the easiest, but least impactful options”

Changing how we think about climate action just might change what we do

Daniel Steel from the University of British Columbia, C. Tyler DesRoches from Arizona State University and Kian Mintz-Woo from the University College Cork write on The Conversation website about the need to abandon viewing our climate actions as a sacrifice. Do you agree?   Effective climate action requires us to abandon viewing our efforts as … Continue reading Changing how we think about climate action just might change what we do

While Europe is battered by the climate crisis, governments must reassure voters that green costs will be fairly shared

In an article on the Guardian website, Francesco Grillo, visiting fellow at the European University Institute, Florence and director of the thinktank Vision asks a pertinent question: how can we put the climate crisis back at the top of the agenda, for politicians and the public alike?   Climate fatigue isn’t a sign that Europeans … Continue reading While Europe is battered by the climate crisis, governments must reassure voters that green costs will be fairly shared

“From a psychology point of view, motivating us to take action on climate is a wicked problem”

In an article on The Conversation website, Jeff Rotman. Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Consumer Psychology & Co-Director of the Better Consumption Lab at Deakin University in Australia discusses our behaviour from a psychological point of view. Misinformation and doubt are particularly damaging to climate action. They let us feel OK about inaction. He concludes: … Continue reading “From a psychology point of view, motivating us to take action on climate is a wicked problem”