“The return to the electric motor is only just beginning and is still stumbling over the distribution network”

'The return to the electric motor is only just beginning and is still stumbling over the distribution network,' said economist Pierre-Cyrille Hautcœur in his column on the Le Monde website. And it needs public investment into infrastructure not to fail as it did in the early 20th century. 'In 1905, half the world's cars were … Continue reading “The return to the electric motor is only just beginning and is still stumbling over the distribution network”

The options in Germany’s accelerated energy transitions

Without Russian natural gas, Germany will be facing an energy crisis. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Jeannette Cwienk discusses what the most realistic and climate-friendly options are.   How can Germany realistically replace gas? As Germany scrambles to find a way to lower its reliance on Russian natural gas, the country has announced  a … Continue reading The options in Germany’s accelerated energy transitions

During our current energy crisis, there are concerns that if sufficiency is not accepted, then rationing will be the inevitable solution

In an editorial on the Le Monde website, three leaders of energy companies called for reducing energy consumption. But the French government has been too slow in its efforts to encourage people to truly change their behaviour.   The need for public leadership on energy sufficiency It is quite rare for companies to encourage their … Continue reading During our current energy crisis, there are concerns that if sufficiency is not accepted, then rationing will be the inevitable solution

The UK is in a strong position to lead efforts on developing an international carbon border adjustment mechanism

A ‘carbon border adjustment mechanism’ on imported goods from polluting factories overseas could help to address the thorny issue of carbon leakage, argues Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation in the June issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry.   It’s not a tax, it’s just an adjustment mechanism Cheap imports of … Continue reading The UK is in a strong position to lead efforts on developing an international carbon border adjustment mechanism

The challenges to reduce independence on Russian gas while ensuring Europe’s clean energy transition meets the long -erm climate and energy objectives

The recipe for independence from Russian gas is the acceleration of the clean energy transition; its success depends on the use of the right ingredients, write Megan Anderson, Bram Claeys and Jan Rosenow in an article on the EURACTIV website.   Is REPowerEU the right energy policy recipe to move away from Russian gas? With … Continue reading The challenges to reduce independence on Russian gas while ensuring Europe’s clean energy transition meets the long -erm climate and energy objectives

Need for a community-based climate approach in Australia to ensure any new infrastructure integrates with people’s lives, values, and aspirations

Bjorn Sturmberg, Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Johannes Hendriks and Pierrick Chalaye, all from the Australian National University write on The Conversation website that a techno-fix is not enough to address climate change. The climate and environmental crises demand innovations in our everyday infrastructures. If these changes are to be accepted and adopted en masse, we must find … Continue reading Need for a community-based climate approach in Australia to ensure any new infrastructure integrates with people’s lives, values, and aspirations

The Supreme Court limited the EPA’s authority on emissions, dealing a blow to efforts to address climate change

The EPA ruling means it may now be mathematically impossible through available avenues for the US to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions goal. Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist and author of Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution, provides his views in an article on The Guardian website.   The US supreme … Continue reading The Supreme Court limited the EPA’s authority on emissions, dealing a blow to efforts to address climate change

Message from recent IEA global energy efficiency conference: with the potential to provide one-third of the emissions reductions needed for net zero, energy efficiency has a key role to play

Jonathan Spencer Jones writes on the Smart Energy International website about the important message that came loud and clear from the recent IEA global energy efficiency conference.   Energy efficiency – the dark horse for reaching net zero In the day-to-day businesses of utilities, as reflected in the comments and stories that reach our desk, … Continue reading Message from recent IEA global energy efficiency conference: with the potential to provide one-third of the emissions reductions needed for net zero, energy efficiency has a key role to play

The Qatar World Cup is failing to live up to promises on reducing its carbon footprint

Later this year, the whole world will be following the world’s largest football tournament. There were questions when Qatar was awarded to host the event but the organisers have claimed this will be the first “carbon neutral” World Cup. Paul MacInnes writes on the Guardian website that they are failing to live up to its … Continue reading The Qatar World Cup is failing to live up to promises on reducing its carbon footprint

Energy efficiency labels can have wider effects, including causing a small amount of people selling their properties to act just like those companies by actually redesigning their homes

David Comerford, Senior Lecturer of Economics and Behavioural Science at University of Stirling writes on The Conversation website about what it would take to make good energy efficiency labels even more effective.   Climate change: efficiency labels really do encourage less energy use – but there’s a better way of using them Reducing our energy … Continue reading Energy efficiency labels can have wider effects, including causing a small amount of people selling their properties to act just like those companies by actually redesigning their homes