Italy is pushing back against EU directive aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings

As the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive slowly winds its way through the approval process from EU institutions, Crispian Balmer and Valentina Za write on the Reuters website that the new Italian government is throwing up some obstacles. How serious are they? Italy gets cold feet over EU greener buildings plan … Continue reading Italy is pushing back against EU directive aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings →

We don’t need experimental or risky energy sources to save our planet

Mark Z Jacobson is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University explains in an article on The Guardian website that the combination of wind, water and solar energy will be enough to solve our climate problems. Wind, water and solar energy is cheap, effective and green. He argues that there is no … Continue reading We don’t need experimental or risky energy sources to save our planet →

The promise of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies in our long-term climate strategies

Carbon removal technologies promise to help meet the world's emissions targets and keep climate change in check. But there are downsides. Martin Kuebler discusses in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Can 'untested' carbon removal technology BECCS deliver? Slashing emissions and transitioning to green energy is no longer enough to meet the world's climate … Continue reading The promise of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies in our long-term climate strategies →

New Slovak law enshrines in legislation the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050

Barbara Zmušková writes on the EURACTIV website about the new climate law in the Slovak Republic. Slovak government presents first-ever climate law The Climate Law, which for the first time officially enshrined in legislation the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, was presented by the Slovakian Environment Ministry on Monday. The law also … Continue reading New Slovak law enshrines in legislation the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 →

Fossil fuel companies spent millions of dollars on advertisements containing climate disinformation and greenwashing at COP27

Fossil fuel companies spent $4m on climate disinformation at COP27 in Egypt, with majority of content originating from a US based PR firm. Stuti Mishra discusses the disinformation efforts in an article on The Independent website. Fossil fuel lobby waged $4m disinformation campaign during climate summit, report finds Fossil fuel companies spent millions of … Continue reading Fossil fuel companies spent millions of dollars on advertisements containing climate disinformation and greenwashing at COP27 →

New standards should bring greater scrutiny of carbon offsets and give buyers confidence their money is helping protect the environment

Recent investigations have revealed widespread problems with offsetting. Fiona Harvey writes on The Guardian website about new efforts by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market to introduce new standards to reassure consumers of the impact of their carbon offset efforts. What are your views? New carbon offset standards ‘should bring greater scrutiny’ … Continue reading New standards should bring greater scrutiny of carbon offsets and give buyers confidence their money is helping protect the environment →

The demand for electric tuk-tuks is growing in Thailand

Thailand suffers from serious air pollution problems in its big cities like Bangkok. Mobility is dominated by cars and there are efforts to increase the number of electric vehicles. In cities tuk-tuks play a major role and traditional ones are highly polluting. Now, as Rebecca Root explains in an article on The Guardian website, electric … Continue reading The demand for electric tuk-tuks is growing in Thailand →

Is carbon removal technology the answer to addressing climate change?

To prevent further global heating, humans need to stop burning fossil fuels. But that's not enough — experts now say we also need to remove billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. What are our options? Martin Kuebler and Gero Rueter discuss the issues in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Can … Continue reading Is carbon removal technology the answer to addressing climate change? →

Trees, trees and yet more trees can help make Europe’s cities more comfortable

Jon Henley writes on The Guardian website about the importance of trees in urban settings. Sadly, many EU cities are less green than they were a century ago. ‘We need trees’: green vision struggles to take root in Europe’s cities From Madrid to Berlin and Paris to Budapest, scientists and planners agree, trees, trees … Continue reading Trees, trees and yet more trees can help make Europe’s cities more comfortable →

At Davos, UN Secretary General critical of fossil fuel industry of refusing to abandon a business model at odds with human survival

The Secretary General has really taken the lead to work at every angle to get climate change policies on track to meet our Paris climate agreement. At COP27, he was very vocal, thankfully. This week Mr. Guterres was at Davos, criticising big companies that, ‘like the tobacco industry’, ride roughshod over their own science. Larry … Continue reading At Davos, UN Secretary General critical of fossil fuel industry of refusing to abandon a business model at odds with human survival →