The emotional side of energy and climate policy

In an article on The Conversation website, Parker Muzzerall, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia; Audrey-Ann Deneault, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal; and Steve Lorteau, SJD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto write about the important role of emotions in energy policy. What are your views?   Emotions … Continue reading The emotional side of energy and climate policy

China continues to lead the world in wind and solar, with twice as much capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined

China is cementing its position as the global leader in renewables development with180 GW of utility-scale solar and 159 GW of wind power already under construction. The total of the two is nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined, and enough to power all of South Korea, according to new data … Continue reading China continues to lead the world in wind and solar, with twice as much capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined

Energy in Demand, July 7, 2024

The Financial Times columnist, Martin Wolf, argued this week (behind a paywall) that market forces are not enough to halt climate change. He notes that our efforts to decarbonise are going poorly. Furthermore, people just do not want to pay the price of decarbonising the economy. In explaining the global rise in electricity from fossil … Continue reading Energy in Demand, July 7, 2024

Blog by Stephen Davies: Natural gas is ‘clean’: unveiling the myth and proposing a sustainable alternative

The imperative to pivot toward sustainable energy practices has never been more critical, given the escalating climate emergency facing our planet. Against this backdrop, many are telling people that natural gas is a ‘clean’ alternative to conventional fossil fuels. However, this assertion skims over the complex, often detrimental environmental ramifications associated with its extraction and … Continue reading Blog by Stephen Davies: Natural gas is ‘clean’: unveiling the myth and proposing a sustainable alternative

“There are no valid economic arguments against rapidly shifting from burning polluting fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources”

In an article on the Common Dreams website, David Suzuki, an award-winning geneticist and broadcaster, co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation, a science-based non-profit environmental organization headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia provides a strong argument about the economic case for a rapid clean energy transition. What are your views.   It's Ridiculous Just How Good the … Continue reading “There are no valid economic arguments against rapidly shifting from burning polluting fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources”

Canada’s push against greenwashing is working

Efforts to stop companies from spreading misinformation in Canada about their impact on the climate and environment appear to be taking hold. An alliance of tar sands producers (often called oil sands) have removed online content citing "significant uncertainty" over the federal government's anti-greenwashing legislation. Nia Williams and Ismail Shakil discuss latest developments in an … Continue reading Canada’s push against greenwashing is working

Spain’s energy transition: “We need to engage more people and more industries in demand-side management”

Guy Hedgecoe writes on the BBC news website about Spain’s growing renewable energy industry with concerns within the electricity industry caused by an imbalance between supply and demand with, at times, a surplus of electricity.   Too much of a good thing? Spain's green energy can exceed demand The patchwork plains of Castilla-La Mancha, in … Continue reading Spain’s energy transition: “We need to engage more people and more industries in demand-side management”

Energy in Demand News, June 16, 2024

No one said the zero-carbon energy transition would be easy. The world faces a “staggering” surplus of oil equating to millions of barrels a day by the end of the decade, according to the IEA. Growth in the world’s demand for oil is expected to slow in the coming years as energy transitions advance. At … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 16, 2024

Research that wind and solar projects will be more cost effective than hydropower by 2030 in Africa

In an article on The Conversation website, Angelo Carlino, Postdoctoral Fellow, Carnegie Science; Andrea Castelletti, Full Professor, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Systems Analysis, Polytechnic University of Milan, Polytechnic University of Milan; and Rafael Schmitt, Lead Scientist, Natural Capital Project, Stanford University write about why Africa should put much more focus on solar and wind … Continue reading Research that wind and solar projects will be more cost effective than hydropower by 2030 in Africa

Energy in Demand News, June 9, 2024

Global investors are turning their backs on sustainability-focused stock funds. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) reports that they cite poor performance, scandals and attacks from US Republicans. “Clients have withdrawn a net $40bn from environmental, social and governance (ESG) equity funds this year, according to research from Barclays, the first year that flows have … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 9, 2024