Energy in Demand News, January 25-26, 2026

The Financial Times reported this week that Norway’s oil fund wants companies to be allowed to water down their climate goals, arguing the alternative was for a major net zero initiative to fall apart. “The $2tn oil fund told the FT it feared companies could back away from the idea of science-backed climate targets unless … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 25-26, 2026 →

What happens when we stop putting a price on clean air?

In an article on The Conversation website, Jenni Shearston, Assistant Professor of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, discusses the impact of air pollution to our health and well-being. Shearston questions why the US has recently stopped estimating the dollar value of lives saved in the cost-benefit analyses for new pollution rules. The New York … Continue reading What happens when we stop putting a price on clean air? →

Decarbonising home heating: UK bets £15bn on solar and heat pumps

Esme Stallard and Justin Rowlatt write on the BBC News website about the latest programme to decarbonise Britain’s homes. Ministers are tilting Britain’s “homes upgrade” spending away from insulation and towards technologies such as solar panels, batteries and heat pumps as they seek to lift 1mn families out of fuel poverty. Is this the right … Continue reading Decarbonising home heating: UK bets £15bn on solar and heat pumps →

While AI uses a lot of energy, it can also make systems cleaner and smarter

Nir Kshetri, Professor of Management, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, writes on The Conversation website that the positive benefits from AI almost certainly will be much more important than the negative ones when it comes to improving the environment. Despite its steep environmental costs, AI might also help save the planet The rapid growth … Continue reading While AI uses a lot of energy, it can also make systems cleaner and smarter →

Energy in Demand News, January 18-19, 2025

This week, the Washington Post reported that the US Environmental Protection Agency will no longer consider health costs in pollution regulations. “The EPA can effectively manage the balance between protecting the environment and spurring economic growth without misleading the public and assigning arbitrary dollar amounts to human health,” said West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 18-19, 2025 →

Will the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement really go against the EU’s climate commitments?

The EU is set to sign a long-awaited trade deal with South America's trade bloc, Mercosur. It may offer unexplored opportunities, but critics say the environmental fallout is being sidelined. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Martin Kuebler discusses the main issues. What the EU-Mercosur deal might mean for the environment Ursula … Continue reading Will the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement really go against the EU’s climate commitments? →

“It is a stretch to suggest that treating ChatGPT politely comes at significant environmental cost”

In article on The Conversation website, Richard Morris, Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, New Zealand discusses the hidden environmental footprint of AI. The author writes that “the popularity of the “please” myth is therefore less a mistake than a signal. People sense AI has a footprint, even if the language … Continue reading “It is a stretch to suggest that treating ChatGPT politely comes at significant environmental cost” →

The need for smarter energy management

In an article prepared for the World Energy Forum annual meeting, Dave Regnery, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Trane Technologies, writes how we can build a more sustainable and resilient future. How to rethink energy demand to build a sustainable, resilient future Global electricity waste exceeds hundreds of billions annually, demanding smarter energy management … Continue reading The need for smarter energy management →

Europe’s carbon border tax is a wake-up call for the UK

In a column in the January issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, Andrew Warren, Chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, considers the introduction of new ‘green tariff’ rules set to impact on any high-carbon goods entering into the EU and the need for the UK government to deliver on its commitment to secure … Continue reading Europe’s carbon border tax is a wake-up call for the UK →

Energy in Demand News, January 11-12, 2026

The Trump Administration has walked away from any effort to address climate change or clean energy technologies, at the national and international levels. Most recently the US announced its withdrawal from virtually all the relevant international organisations (see the first two posts below). Yet, the impact of climate change is being felt in the US. … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 11-12, 2026 →