European Green Deal facing pushback threatening to slow EU efforts to cut GHG emissions

As the center right changes tack on climate, the bloc’s climate coalition is crumbling. It is hard to imagine, given current climate disasters, that there is so much resistance to ramping up ambition to cut GHG emissions even faster.  Zia Weise discusses latest developments in an article on the Politico website.   Political backing for … Continue reading European Green Deal facing pushback threatening to slow EU efforts to cut GHG emissions →

Amid the worst heat waves ever recorded in the United States, China, Mexico, Siberia and beyond, climate denial continues to flourish

An extreme global heat wave has been blamed on climate change, yet online misinformation has evolved to counter the facts — despite platforms like TikTok banning climate denial. Stuart Braun discusses this growth in climate denial in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   Why is climate denial still thriving online? Record global temperatures … Continue reading Amid the worst heat waves ever recorded in the United States, China, Mexico, Siberia and beyond, climate denial continues to flourish →

New UK research exploring the effect of energy labels on consumer shopping decisions

In autumn 2021 the Behavioural Insight Team (BIT), unofficially known as the “Nudge Unit”, conducted research through experiment, survey and interview to see whether the information on appliances’ energy labels influenced the consumer’s choice of product. The research was undertaken for the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. The experiment examined the difference … Continue reading New UK research exploring the effect of energy labels on consumer shopping decisions →

New EEA briefing on the human element for investing in energy renovations

A better understanding is needed of how owners, construction contractors and installers interact and perceive possible advantages of renovating their houses, apartments and other buildings to improve energy efficiency. This would help bolster European policies to shift the building sector to a carbon-neutral future. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week explores the … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the human element for investing in energy renovations →

The cooling conundrum

Rising temperatures are leading to a surge in demand for cooling. But, ironically, the more we rely on energy-intensive air conditioners, the more the planet warms. What are the other options? Natalie Muller and Neil King discuss in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   Keeping homes cool on a warming planet In many … Continue reading The cooling conundrum →

How much time and credibility should be given to arguments that deny the reality of climate change without respecting the basic rules of debate?

Le Monde has investigated the arguments of the climate sceptics, compiling and classifying them, but above all verifying them with climate reports and scientific literature. Narratives denying the scientific consensus on climate change are gaining ground. Behind a pseudo-expert facade, their inconsistencies betray profound intellectual dishonesty. William Audureau discusses what is behind this climate scepticism. … Continue reading How much time and credibility should be given to arguments that deny the reality of climate change without respecting the basic rules of debate? →

Targeted help from governments can help us reduce our carbon footprint

People in rich countries can lead clean lives quicker if governments make it easy for them to ditch dirty habits. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Ajit Niranjan discusses what can be done to reduce our carbon footprint.   How can governments help people cut their carbon footprint? Some of the most powerful … Continue reading Targeted help from governments can help us reduce our carbon footprint →

New survey shows that the more a climate change measure would change lifestyle, the less it is supported

A recent YouGov survey in seven European countries tested backing for government and individual action on crisis. Jon Henley discusses the results in an article on the Guardian website.   Many Europeans want climate action – but less so if it changes their lifestyle, shows poll Many Europeans are alarmed by the climate crisis and … Continue reading New survey shows that the more a climate change measure would change lifestyle, the less it is supported →

Close examination of the arguments made by climate change deniers reveals the same mistake made over and over again

As humanity faces the challenge of global warming, we need to use all our cognitive resources. Recognising the thinking error at the root of climate change denial could disarm objections to climate research and make science the basis of our efforts to preserve a hospitable environment for our future. Jeremy P. Shapiro, Adjunct Assistant Professor … Continue reading Close examination of the arguments made by climate change deniers reveals the same mistake made over and over again →

One British radio programme highlights issues we face in our energy transition

The Archers is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word channel. Broadcast since 1951. It was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now promoted as "a contemporary drama in a rural setting." Ed Atkins and Ros Death from the University of Bristol … Continue reading One British radio programme highlights issues we face in our energy transition →