Beware of carbon accounting tricks for us to achieve net zero

Disaster looms if big finance is allowed to game the carbon offsetting markets to achieve ‘net zero’ emissions. Simon Lewis, professor global change science at University College London and University of Leeds, discusses in an article on the Guardian website. The climate crisis can't be solved by carbon accounting tricks An astonishing global shift … Continue reading Beware of carbon accounting tricks for us to achieve net zero →

Rethinking cement

The production of cement, the binding element in concrete, accounted for 7% of total global carbon dioxide emissions in 2018. Given the scale of the industry and its greenhouse gas emissions, technologies that can reinvent concrete could have profound impacts on climate change. At the University of Michigan, we are working on composites that produce … Continue reading Rethinking cement →

Air pollution from burning fossil fuels is causing more than twice as many deaths as thought, a study has found

A recent study has shown that fine particle pollution is having a a greater health cost than previously thought. The authors said that the higher number was due to better understanding of the impacts of fine particles thanks to studies which tracked large groups of people over time and compared pollution levels where they lived … Continue reading Air pollution from burning fossil fuels is causing more than twice as many deaths as thought, a study has found →

Scotland’s “water of life” – its whisky industry – is turning green

The Scotch whisky industry is investigating innovations including hydrogen-powered distilleries to move more quickly towards becoming carbon neutral. Greig Cameron discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Whisky industry goes green with 2040 target for carbon neutrality Scotland’s water of life is turning green. The whisky industry is investigating innovations including … Continue reading Scotland’s “water of life” – its whisky industry – is turning green →

Energy transition: “developing economies have neither the resources nor the technology to transform themselves overnight”

Kenneth Rogoff, professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University and former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, explains in an article on The Guardian website why developing countries need global support to achieve necessary carbon emission reductions. Developing economies need a fairer way to help them decarbonise With the US president-elect … Continue reading Energy transition: “developing economies have neither the resources nor the technology to transform themselves overnight” →

Few people would stop to consider if their sporting activities damage the environment

Reducing GHG emissions is not simple and, as we know, there is no single solution. Tim Breitbarth, Adam Karg and Kasey Symons, all of Swinburne University of Technology, write on the Conversation website about the impact of driving to and from sport events each year. The solution is not simple. Drive to football? Take … Continue reading Few people would stop to consider if their sporting activities damage the environment →

BREXIT agreement requires UK to have an “effective” system of carbon pricing as of 1 January 2021 GHG emissions from power & heat generation, industry and aviation

The BREXIT agreement was finalised on Christmas eve and it passed the UK Parliament on New Year’s Eve. The agreement foresees the EU and UK co-operating on carbon pricing with "serious" consideration on linking carbon pricing systems in a way that "preserves the integrity of these systems and provides for the possibility to increase their … Continue reading BREXIT agreement requires UK to have an “effective” system of carbon pricing as of 1 January 2021 GHG emissions from power & heat generation, industry and aviation →

Citizens from around the world will be recruited at random to form a global ‘Climate Assembly’

One thousand people will be selected at random to reflect the gender, race, age and economic make-up of the global population, organisers said. They will meet online next year to learn about climate change from international experts, before drawing up advice for world leaders ahead of a major UN climate summit in Glasgow in November … Continue reading Citizens from around the world will be recruited at random to form a global ‘Climate Assembly’ →

Assessing the global climate change performance

No country has yet achieved the goals of the Paris Agreement, according to the Climate Change Performance Index from NGOs Germanwatch and the NewClimate Institute. Gero Rueter writes on the Deutsche Welle website about the results from the most recent index. How is your country doing? Climate Change Performance Index: How far have we … Continue reading Assessing the global climate change performance →

The emissions attributable to the richest 1 percent of the global population account for more than double those of the poorest 50 percent

No one said the carbon neutral energy transition would be simple but we have a major challenge finding a more equitable balance in our carbon footprints. This is simply not sustainable. Brady Dennis, Chris Mooney and Sarah Kaplan discuss the issues arising from a new UN emissions gap report in an article on the Washington … Continue reading The emissions attributable to the richest 1 percent of the global population account for more than double those of the poorest 50 percent →