While household air conditioning is one of the “most effective adaptation strategies to reduce heat-related mortality and morbidity,” it can also be an unsustainable and problematic solution to extreme heat

Emily Chung  writes on the CBC News website about the benefits and costs of air conditioning in extreme heat. Passive cooling, greenery, behaviour changes are more sustainable, researchers say.   Why air conditioners can be a problematic solution to extreme heat As extreme heat hits many parts of the world amid a warming climate, millions … Continue reading While household air conditioning is one of the “most effective adaptation strategies to reduce heat-related mortality and morbidity,” it can also be an unsustainable and problematic solution to extreme heat

Even when the carbon captured by new trees is taken into account, wood consumption accounts for about one-tenth of the world’s annual GHG emissions

Little is understood about the emissions from harvesting wood. Max Graham writes on the National Observer website about a new report that discusses the impact of the forest industry. Even when the carbon captured by new trees is taken into account, wood consumption accounts for about one-tenth of the world’s annual GHG emissions. There are … Continue reading Even when the carbon captured by new trees is taken into account, wood consumption accounts for about one-tenth of the world’s annual GHG emissions

New global shipping climate strategy is vague, obscure and almost noncommittal but points the industry toward a cleaner future

Don Maier, Associate Professor of Business at the University of Tennessee writes on The Conversation website about what the new shipping agreement means in terms of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.   Global shipping has a new climate strategy – it’s vague, obscure and almost noncommittal, but it may be pointing the industry in the … Continue reading New global shipping climate strategy is vague, obscure and almost noncommittal but points the industry toward a cleaner future

How dangerously under prepared northern Europe is for the consequences of climate change

Jesus Lizana, Nicole Miranda and Radhika Khosla of the University of Oxford write on The Conversation website explaining that their new research highlights how dangerously under prepared northern Europe is for the consequences of climate change. If you are from northern Europe, do you agree with their views?   Northern Europe faces biggest relative increase … Continue reading How dangerously under prepared northern Europe is for the consequences of climate change

For Europe’s mayors it’s the Green Deal or bust, and it’s time everyone put their cards on the table

Burkhard Jung, president of Eurocities and mayor of Leipzig, Germany, in an article on the Politico website, explains the important role cities are playing in the implementation of the EU European Green Deal. Europe’s mayors are looking forward to a sustainable future, but, as Mr Jung explains, some governments seem ready to backtrack and there … Continue reading For Europe’s mayors it’s the Green Deal or bust, and it’s time everyone put their cards on the table

What engineers – and others – need to know about the EU Ecodesign Regulation

The second phase of the EU’s Ecodesign Regulation raises the bar for electric motor energy efficiency – and the rest of the world is sure to follow. Daniel Eberli from ABB, a technology leader in electrification and automation, discusses ecodesign in an article on the Engineer Live website.   Energy efficiency with ecodesign Energy efficiency … Continue reading What engineers – and others – need to know about the EU Ecodesign Regulation

US weatherman receives death threats for conveying messages about the climate crisis

Oliver Milman writes on the Guardian website about a US weatherman, Chris Gloninger , who wove the reality of global heating into his forecasts in the conservative heartland of Iowa. Gloninger said he experienced “a holy shit moment” with climate change as he was drenched while covering 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. Obviously, not all his viewers … Continue reading US weatherman receives death threats for conveying messages about the climate crisis

Britain’s energy and climate transition: is it on track?

The latest progress report from the Climate Change Committee makes grim reading on progress towards net zero. Government inertia and reliance on old ways of thinking are to blame. Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation discusses the report in the July issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry.   Has the UK … Continue reading Britain’s energy and climate transition: is it on track?

Greenpeace criticizes the low cost of European flights

Despite the fact that flying produces more greenhouse gases than train journeys, people often opt for the former, Greenpeace says. According to the nonprofit organization Greenpeace, the boom of low-cost flying has led to damaging, potentially irreversible effects on the global climate. Their report is available here. Laura Hülsemann discusses the report in an article … Continue reading Greenpeace criticizes the low cost of European flights

European Green Deal facing pushback threatening to slow EU efforts to cut GHG emissions

As the center right changes tack on climate, the bloc’s climate coalition is crumbling. It is hard to imagine, given current climate disasters, that there is so much resistance to ramping up ambition to cut GHG emissions even faster.  Zia Weise discusses latest developments in an article on the Politico website.   Political backing for … Continue reading European Green Deal facing pushback threatening to slow EU efforts to cut GHG emissions