US has monumental task to update energy efficiency standards

Nearly three dozen efficiency standards are overdue for an update, and further delays could undercut Biden’s climate goals. Anna Phillips discusses latest developments in an article on The Washington Post website. Biden faces delays in undoing Trump’s war on efficient dishwashers, dryers and lightbulbs that made him ‘look orange’ Before Donald Trump launched his … Continue reading US has monumental task to update energy efficiency standards →

How much does anything we do for the climate actually matter?

Can new year's resolutions to go vegan and fly less help stop climate change — or are individual lifestyle changes a distraction from real solutions? Ajit Niranjan tries to give us some answers in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. What are your views? Should I feel guilty about my carbon footprint? Turn … Continue reading How much does anything we do for the climate actually matter? →

Offset schemes do little to reduce climate impact of aviation

Almost all airlines now run offset schemes offering customers the chance to invest in green projects to negate the carbon impact of their flight. However, as Madeleine Cuff writes on the inews website, some offset prices fall are below the true cost of removing CO2. So, what would you suggest? Carbon offsetting fees offered … Continue reading Offset schemes do little to reduce climate impact of aviation →

Real time monitoring of CO₂ and other gases is not only achievable but is something all cities should do

One of the biggest challenges for any city seeking to reach net zero is knowing exactly where its emissions are coming from. CO₂ is not routinely measured in real time by city authorities anywhere in the world; however, a pilot project in Glasgow shows it is achievable. Craig Michie, Professor of Electrical Engineering, at University … Continue reading Real time monitoring of CO₂ and other gases is not only achievable but is something all cities should do →

The cost of abating the carbon impact of a proposed third runway at Heathrow has doubled since parliament approved the idea of expansion

While air travel has been subdued because of Covid-19, that does not mean that plans are not underway for expansion. In Britain, several years ago Parliament agreed to add a third runway to Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports. However, there is a requirement to offset the carbon emissions of the runway. Recent estimates … Continue reading The cost of abating the carbon impact of a proposed third runway at Heathrow has doubled since parliament approved the idea of expansion →

How eco-friendly is wind power really?

Wind power is essential to fighting climate change, yet building the turbines is energy-intensive and the blades are made from plastics. So how eco-friendly is wind power really? Gero Rueter discusses the sustainability of wind power in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. How sustainable is wind power? Together with solar power, wind … Continue reading How eco-friendly is wind power really? →

Can aviation make the transition to a low-carbon future – and perhaps even reach net-zero emissions?

Emma Rachel Whittlesea and Tim Ryley at Griffith University in Australia address that question by arguing that significant technological and energy disruption on the horizon for the industry suggests such a future is possible. They discuss the issues in an article on The Conversation website. Blue-sky thinking: net-zero aviation is more than a flight … Continue reading Can aviation make the transition to a low-carbon future – and perhaps even reach net-zero emissions? →

The technology to capture carbon is in development, but one burning question remains: where on Earth should we store all that carbon?

Kian Mintz-Woo, Lecturer in Philosophy, Environmental Research Institute at the University College Cork writes on The Conversation website about the challenges to use carbon capture and storage to reach zero emissions. Carbon capture and storage: where should the world store CO₂? It’s a moral dilemma The recent Glasgow climate pact committed 197 countries to … Continue reading The technology to capture carbon is in development, but one burning question remains: where on Earth should we store all that carbon? →

Will poorer countries be unfairly disadvantaged by EU climate protection regulations?

The EU is picking up speed with climate protection regulations. For imports from abroad, a carbon tax will soon be introduced. But poorer countries could be unfairly disadvantaged by this. Tim Schauenberg discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. CO2 tax at Europe's border: Revolution or protectionism? Earlier this year, … Continue reading Will poorer countries be unfairly disadvantaged by EU climate protection regulations? →

Recent research finds that women aged 30-45 are particularly conscious of energy efficiency issues

New data from proptech firm houzen has shown that women are driving change within the home, leading the country’s sustainability retrofits. Robin Whitlock discusses the new data in an article on the Renewable Energy Magazine website. Women aged 30-45 leading the charge for sustainable retrofits in UK homes finds new survey According to research … Continue reading Recent research finds that women aged 30-45 are particularly conscious of energy efficiency issues →