New EEA briefing on modernising Europe’s energy-intensive industries

Emissions from energy-intensive industries in Europe have fallen sharply over the past two decades, but progress has stalled and the health-related costs of pollution remain high, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing. Further reductions will require deeper industrial transformation, alongside full implementation of existing EU environmental legislation. Industrial transformation key to … Continue reading New EEA briefing on modernising Europe’s energy-intensive industries →

Energy in Demand News, February 22-23, 2026

In the rush to expand the use of coal in the US, the Financial Times reports that this week the US Environmental Protection Agency “rolled back strict controls imposed by former president Joe Biden’s administration on the volume of toxins that coal and oil-fired power plants can release into the atmosphere. The Trump administration has … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 22-23, 2026 →

Does clean energy generate too much waste? Hannah Ritchie checks the data on climate action

From the What on Earth programme on the CBC News website, Hannah Ritchie provides data to show where we are on the road to sustainability. The road to sustainability can seem hazy. Data shows where we need to go "Don’t solar panels and wind turbines generate huge amounts of waste? Aren’t our efforts pointless … Continue reading Does clean energy generate too much waste? Hannah Ritchie checks the data on climate action →

Energy in Demand News, February 15-16, 2026

When it comes to climate and energy policies, we shouldn’t be shocked by any news coming out of Washington these days. But no doubt there is collective shock that the Trump administration has repealed the US government’s power to regulate climate change. Nearly 17 years after the Environmental Protection Agency declared that carbon dioxide and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 15-16, 2026 →

Kicked down the road: Britain’s £12bn energy efficiency delay

Despite promises to the contrary, the government continues to delay raising EPC standards for non-residential buildings. In a column in the February issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, shares his frustrations about the cost of inaction and highlights some of the other potential health and … Continue reading Kicked down the road: Britain’s £12bn energy efficiency delay →

New EEA report on value of rail as a low-emission alternative for moving people and goods in Europe

Transport remains Europe’s most persistent climate challenge. While rail offers a low-emission alternative for moving people and goods, Europe’s continued reliance on road transport is keeping greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions high, according to a report published this week by the European Environment Agency. Rail offers a major opportunity for Europe to cut transport … Continue reading New EEA report on value of rail as a low-emission alternative for moving people and goods in Europe →

Energy in Demand News, February 8-9, 2026

There is mixed news on climate-related philanthropy this week. Michael Bloomberg’s donations on climate action have topped $3 billion over a decade, “including a recent boost to contributions to the UN’s climate body, as broader financial support slides in the Trump era,” reports the Financial Times. “The 83-year-old pledged nearly $270mn to two climate initiatives … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 8-9, 2026 →

Energy in Demand News, February 1-2, 2026

Prof. Steve Thomas, Emeritus Professor of Energy Policy, University of Greenwich wrote in a letter to the editor published in the Financial Times this week about the impact small modular reactors (SMRs) to be a major source of low-carbon energy. He questions the length of time to build SMRs. Even new ones in Russia have … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 1-2, 2026 →

Plans for Thames River to be the source for heat pump in central London

A news item on the BBC News website describes the plan to use the Thames River as the source for low-carbon heating in London. Plans to power London landmarks with Thames heat A new £72.7million communal heat network could provide low-carbon heating for the National Theatre and other London landmarks near Waterloo and the … Continue reading Plans for Thames River to be the source for heat pump in central London →

The carbon cost of the super-rich’s luxury travel

Rowland Atkinson, Professor and Research Chair in Inclusive Societies, University of Sheffield writes on The Conversation website about the impact of the super-rich on our global GHG emissions. The politics of the hyper-polluting private transport used by the world’s super-rich is hotting up While millions of people make the effort to sort their recycling, … Continue reading The carbon cost of the super-rich’s luxury travel →