New rules will force U.S. firms to divulge role in warming the planet

US regulators approve significantly scaled back climate disclosure rule. In an article on The Conversation website Sehoon Kim, Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Florida, discusses why the requirements are weaker and what they mean for companies. For those of you wanting more, the Financial Times reports (behind a paywall) that ten US states petitioned … Continue reading New rules will force U.S. firms to divulge role in warming the planet →

Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024

The bad news from the IEA this week is that, globally, CO2 emissions increased by 410 million tonnes, or 1.1%, in 2023. The good news from the IEA is that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose less strongly in 2023 than the year before even as total energy demand growth accelerated. IEA analysis shows that the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024 →

Disproportionate focus of manufacturers on large SUVs and premium models means we have too few mass-market cars

New analysis by Transport & Environment shows how the car market is being distorted by large SUVs. The analysis is discussed in an article on the T&E website. Carmakers are failing to deliver affordable electric cars, holding back EV adoption – analysis Only 17% of electric cars sold are in the more affordable ‘B’ … Continue reading Disproportionate focus of manufacturers on large SUVs and premium models means we have too few mass-market cars →

Climate litigation – flagship cases illustrate certain tactics which maximise the chance of a win

In an article on The Conversation website, Morgiane Noel, PhD Candidate, Migration, Climate Change, Human Rights, European Law and International Law, Trinity College Dublin discusses what it takes for successful climate litigation. Three secrets to successful climate litigation Courts around the world are handling an increasing number of climate and environmental cases due to … Continue reading Climate litigation – flagship cases illustrate certain tactics which maximise the chance of a win →

How effective is carbon capture and storage as a means to decarbonise our economies?

In an article on the Scientific American website, Naomi Oreskes, professor of the history of science at Harvard University, argues that fossil-fuel companies use captured carbon dioxide to extract more fossil fuels, leading to a net increase in atmospheric CO2. Is this your view? The False Promise of Carbon Capture as a Climate Solution … Continue reading How effective is carbon capture and storage as a means to decarbonise our economies? →

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 →

State-owned energy firms that search for, produce and refine fossil fuels are among the most polluting organisations in the world

In an article on The Conversation website, Anna Grosman, Reader in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Loughborough University; Aldo Musacchio, Professor of Management and Economics, Brandeis University; and Gerhard Schnyder, Professor of International Management & Political Economy, Loughborough University write about the poor environmental track record of state-owned energy companies. State-owned energy companies are among the … Continue reading State-owned energy firms that search for, produce and refine fossil fuels are among the most polluting organisations in the world →

Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024

Financing the climate and energy transition is facing ever more difficulties – as I’m sure you see in your own country. At the global level, COP26 in Glasgow approved the Just Energy Transition Partnerships, a landmark climate finance framework endorsed by world leaders as a way to fund the green transition in poorer countries. However, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024 →

How some fungi can help the environment and become the basis for a variety of eco-friendly industries

Anna Spencer writes on the CBC News website about the many benefits of fungi. This article is part of the CBC News initiative entitled "Our Changing Planet" to show and explain the effects of climate change. From fashion to burials: How fungi can help fight climate change Fungi are among the oldest organisms on … Continue reading How some fungi can help the environment and become the basis for a variety of eco-friendly industries →

Hemp is being touted as a building material for housing that may avoid some of the environmental, logistic and economic downsides of concrete

Proponents of hemp tout its non-toxic and mould, fire and infestation-resistant properties. Edward Helmore discusses the benefits of hemp in an article on the Guardian website. ‘It’s almost carbon-negative’: how hemp became a surprise building material Cannabis sativa, the plant of the thousand and one molecules, has a long and expansive reputation – as a folk … Continue reading Hemp is being touted as a building material for housing that may avoid some of the environmental, logistic and economic downsides of concrete →