German car manufacturers fined $1 billion over emission collusion in EU

A recent news article on the Kleanindustries website discusses a fine imposed by the European Commission on major German car manufacturers on holding back the use of technical developments, not a more traditional practice like price fixing. EU fines German car makers $1B over emission collusion The European Union handed down $1 billion in … Continue reading German car manufacturers fined $1 billion over emission collusion in EU →

Measuring “net-zero” emissions is not simple

Emily Chung writes on the CBC website about a new study suggesting that the assumption that a tonne of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is balanced by a tonne removed from the atmosphere may have to be revisited because there are differences, according to the research. Carbon removal study suggests arithmetic to achieve net-zero … Continue reading Measuring “net-zero” emissions is not simple →

New data from EEA on emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published its provisional data about the emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020. For cars, the data show a 12 % decrease in average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared with 2019. Average van emissions also decreased slightly, by about 1.5 %. Sharp decrease … Continue reading New data from EEA on emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020 →

Smart traffic lights could cut emissions by a quarter

Is this the future for better traffic flow in urban areas? Smart traffic lights are now being tested in Britain. Graeme Paton discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Smart traffic lights get green light for cutting emissions by a quarter A new generation of smart traffic lights could be introduced … Continue reading Smart traffic lights could cut emissions by a quarter →

Wide disparity of national nZEB standards undermines EU climate goals, finds BPIE

A new assessment of national nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) standards, released this week by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), finds a wide degree of disparity in how these are implemented across the EU-27, highlighting a misalignment with EU climate targets. Since the beginning of 2021, all new buildings constructed in the EU must be nZEBs, … Continue reading Wide disparity of national nZEB standards undermines EU climate goals, finds BPIE →

International Maritime Organization accused of repeatedly delayed and watered down climate regulations

Behind closed doors, shipbuilders and miners can speak on behalf of governments while regulating an industry that pollutes as much as all of America’s coal plants. Matt Apuzzo and Sarah Hurtes discuss the organisation in an article on the New York Times website. Tasked to Fight Climate Change, a Secretive U.N. Agency Does the … Continue reading International Maritime Organization accused of repeatedly delayed and watered down climate regulations →

Latest EEA data on average car emissions increasing in 2019

Average emissions from new passenger cars in Europe increased for the third consecutive year in 2019, reaching 122.3 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (g CO2/km), according to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) final data. Data about newly registered vans show a stable trend. New EEA data set baseline for emission reductions in heavy-duty vehicles. Average … Continue reading Latest EEA data on average car emissions increasing in 2019 →

Carbon performance a necessary complement to energy performance: EU buildings’ policy should address the carbon footprint of construction, says BPIE

The EU’s forthcoming revision of legislation for buildings and construction is a critical opportunity to create policy and investment certainty on how energy performance requirements will be supported by carbon performance rules, says BPIE. New research from BPIE shows that while some EU Member States have introduced comprehensive policy action to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings … Continue reading Carbon performance a necessary complement to energy performance: EU buildings’ policy should address the carbon footprint of construction, says BPIE →

Nasa is corralling companies to demonstrate improved ways to power aircraft via batteries rather than jet fuel

It is encouraging that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) in the US is organizing demonstration tests of electric propulsion. It turns out Nasa has been working on electric planes for the past decade and it is good to see the demonstrations now starting. Oliver Milman discusses latest developments in an article on the … Continue reading Nasa is corralling companies to demonstrate improved ways to power aircraft via batteries rather than jet fuel →

Many buildings could be transformed or redeployed through adaptive reuse for much-needed housing

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we use buildings has changed. Many have been working from home. Shops and other buildings have closed or become unused for one reason or another. Norman Day, Lecturer in Architecture, Practice and Design, At Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology writes on The Conversation website about how these buildings can … Continue reading Many buildings could be transformed or redeployed through adaptive reuse for much-needed housing →