Our energy transition: GHG emissions from the global transport sector aren’t falling fast enough

Shifting to sustainable travel is essential to reduce carbon emissions from transport. Encouraging public transport, biking, reducing flying and replacing fossil fuel cars with electric ones can help significantly. Martin Kuebler discusses the challenges in this shift to sustainable travel in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Growing demand for travel poses green … Continue reading Our energy transition: GHG emissions from the global transport sector aren’t falling fast enough →

Half of EU countries have no mandatory energy-saving measures in place for next winter, new analysis by European Environmental Bureau shows

Most measures adopted by EU member states to save gas and electricity are voluntary and only targeted at public buildings, new analysis published this week reveals. Governments refraining from mandatory reductions for business and industry are shifting the burden of the energy crisis onto the most vulnerable citizens, warns the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). The … Continue reading Half of EU countries have no mandatory energy-saving measures in place for next winter, new analysis by European Environmental Bureau shows →

Solar is now growing much faster than any other energy technology in history

Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University, writes on The Conversation website arguing that the rise and rise of cheap solar is our best hope for rapidly mitigating climate change. Do you agree? Despairing about climate change? These 4 charts on the unstoppable growth of solar may change your mind Last year, the … Continue reading Solar is now growing much faster than any other energy technology in history →

Canada’s energy transition to net-zero emissions: need to upgrade 600,000 existing homes and 750 million square metres of existing commercial space per year between now and 2040

have to act now, and the shift will require a co-ordinated effort between government, industry and residents. Abdul Matin Sarfraz discusses the challenges and costs in an article on the National Observer website. The cost of turning older buildings into climate-fighting machines While Canada has set a deadline to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions … Continue reading Canada’s energy transition to net-zero emissions: need to upgrade 600,000 existing homes and 750 million square metres of existing commercial space per year between now and 2040 →

Excessive personal consumption needs to be addressed in our climate strategies

Fernando Valladares from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Spain, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses a study that found that rich people leave a disproportionately large carbon footprint, and that the share of global emissions for which they are responsible is increasing and there is a need to tax the … Continue reading Excessive personal consumption needs to be addressed in our climate strategies →

India sees the proposed EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as discriminatory and a trade barrier

In a news item on the EURACTIV website, India is concerned about CBAM and will raise it at the World Trade Organization. What are your views? India plans to challenge EU carbon tax at WTO Indian plans to file a complaint to the World Trade Organisation over the European Union’s proposal to impose 20% … Continue reading India sees the proposed EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as discriminatory and a trade barrier →

New report from Strategic Perspectives: “Turning the European Green Deal into Reality” will bring security and benefits for businesses and households

With most of the laws adopted to implement the 2030 climate target, Strategic Perspectives takes stock of the European Green Deal. What began as a vision to make Europe the first continent to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 has not only evolved into the world’s most comprehensive set of laws to decarbonise the economy. The … Continue reading New report from Strategic Perspectives: “Turning the European Green Deal into Reality” will bring security and benefits for businesses and households →

70 years ago this month the danger of carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere first travelled around the world

Marc Hudson, Visiting Fellow, Science Policy at the University of Sussex writes on The Conversation website that 70 years ago the Canadian physicist Gilbert Plass told scientists at the American Geophysical Union that trouble was afoot. While scientists in the 19th century such as John Tyndall, Svante Arrhenius and others explained there was carbon dioxide … Continue reading 70 years ago this month the danger of carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere first travelled around the world →

Methane leaks alone from Turkmenistan’s two main fossil fuel fields caused more global warming in 2022 than the entire carbon emissions of the UK

Leaks of potent greenhouse gas could be easily fixed, say experts, and would rapidly reduce global heating. In an article on the Guardian website, Damian Carrington discusses latest developments. ‘Mind-boggling’ methane emissions from Turkmenistan revealed Methane leaks alone from Turkmenistan’s two main fossil fuel fields caused more global heating in 2022 than the entire … Continue reading Methane leaks alone from Turkmenistan’s two main fossil fuel fields caused more global warming in 2022 than the entire carbon emissions of the UK →

Update on the energy performance of buildings

Improving the energy performance of our buildings is a high priority as countries roll out their net-zero energy transition strategies. This week there were two interesting articles you should be aware of: The Mortgage Solutions website writes that around 80 per cent of landlords have already completed energy efficiency works in the UK. Check out … Continue reading Update on the energy performance of buildings →