Germany's long love affair with its high-speed freeways could hit a dead end as calls grow to stop autobahn extensions to combat climate change. Stuart Braun discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Autobahns speed up climate crisis When German electronic band Kraftwerk released the iconic song "Autobahn" in 1975, … Continue reading Today the legend of autobahns is associated with Germany’s failure to meet its climate obligations
Category: carbon emissions
Claims that using concrete will reduce the “whole life” carbon emissions from buildings are often exaggerated
The cement and concrete industry is encouraging the use of cement, by claiming that using concrete will reduce the “whole life” carbon emissions from buildings. Alice Moncaster, Senior Lecturer in Engineering at The Open University, in an article on The Conversation website, challenges those claims. Three reasons concrete doesn’t live up to its environmental … Continue reading Claims that using concrete will reduce the “whole life” carbon emissions from buildings are often exaggerated
Australia and its climate and energy transition
Adam Morton writes on The Guardian website about what is known about the new climate legislation and what it means for climate action. Australia’s climate change targets will become law. What happens now? The Australian House of Representatives has passed the country’s first climate change legislation in more than a decade. The main part … Continue reading Australia and its climate and energy transition
Coping with the crisis in Germany: “If the industry can no longer produce here, the demand doesn’t fade. What we produce here will simply be manufactured in other countries, under worse and less sustainable conditions.”
Not a week goes by without warnings of rising gas prices or renewed calls to save energy any way possible. But how are German companies that are highly dependent on the fossil fuel preparing for a looming shortage? Thomas Kohlmann provides some answers in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. How German industry … Continue reading Coping with the crisis in Germany: “If the industry can no longer produce here, the demand doesn’t fade. What we produce here will simply be manufactured in other countries, under worse and less sustainable conditions.”
Australia’s new government needs to ensure its legislative foundation for climate follows best practice globally
Anita Foerster, Associate professor, Monash University; Alice Bleby, PhD Candidate, UNSW Sydney; and Anne Kallies, Senior Lecturer, RMIT University write on The Conversation website that Australia’s new Albanese government should be guided by lessons from the design and implementation of existing laws in other countries, to ensure it follows best practice. Failing to learn from … Continue reading Australia’s new government needs to ensure its legislative foundation for climate follows best practice globally
The world’s most influential banks need to substantially accelerate climate efforts
Many of the world's biggest banks are falling far short of aligning their practices with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the Earth's warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a new report from the IIGCC warns. The report is discussed in an Associated Press news item on The Independent website. Banks far … Continue reading The world’s most influential banks need to substantially accelerate climate efforts
Does expanding nuclear energy in Britain make sense?
We are in the midst of a zero-carbon energy transition globally and Britain has shown leadership with its strategy that sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet the net zero target by 2050. The UK Government is putting nuclear at the centre of its strategy to reach … Continue reading Does expanding nuclear energy in Britain make sense?
A blockchain-based ‘smart charging solution’ enables EV owners to match their charging requirements with selected renewable options
Jonathan Spencer Jones writes on the Smart Energy International website about a new solution using blockchain to match local renewables to EV charging. VW and Energy Web develop 24/7 renewable energy charging blockchain solution for EVs Energy Web and Volkswagen have partnered on a solution to match local renewables to electric vehicle (EV) charging. … Continue reading A blockchain-based ‘smart charging solution’ enables EV owners to match their charging requirements with selected renewable options
“No matter how many supply-side resources we pour into the mix, the perfect blend will elude us until we stop treating demand-side flexibility as a final flourish of glitter”
With REPowerEU underway, Europe’s energy and climate strategy demands a rapid change of scenery. We must utilise the full palette of solutions available, including household flexibility, says Sophie Yule-Bennett from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) in an article on the FORESIGHT Climate & Energy website. House power: the hidden powerhouse of the new energy … Continue reading “No matter how many supply-side resources we pour into the mix, the perfect blend will elude us until we stop treating demand-side flexibility as a final flourish of glitter”
New EEA briefing on how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation
Building renovation is a key contributor to improving energy efficiency and to achieving a climate neutral European Union (EU) by 2050. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, investigates how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation. It finds that, through 2050, circularity can significantly reduce the use of materials … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 