“The fight to hold the Ontario government accountable for its climate action is not over”

A judge has warned that Ontario’s weak climate plans will “increase the risk of death” for Canada’s young people – but dismissed a lawsuit brought by a group worried that government inaction on global heating threatens their futures. Canadian youth activists’ case nevertheless dismissed as judge rules province’s policies do not violate Charter rights. This … Continue reading “The fight to hold the Ontario government accountable for its climate action is not over”

New EEA official data on 2021 GHG gas emissions published

Official data, published this week by the European Environment Agency (EEA), confirm that the economic recovery in 2021 increased the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions but their level remained lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the EU has reduced its emissions by 30% since 1990.   Economic recovery pushed EU emissions up in 2021 but … Continue reading New EEA official data on 2021 GHG gas emissions published

Report details mistakes and lessons to be learned from the past 30 years of France’s energy system

A recent Parliamentary report in France highlighted “the reasons for the loss of sovereignty and energy independence of France”. Le Monde introduced it as “the damning report on France's energy choices, and its loss of sovereignty: "A political rambling that has taken us away from the ecological transition."” Paul Messad discusses the report in an … Continue reading Report details mistakes and lessons to be learned from the past 30 years of France’s energy system

European aviation industry claims bill of €‎800bn to reach net zero emissions

European aviation faces more than €‎800bn in extra costs to reach net zero emissions by 2050 to limit climate change, according to industry estimates that highlight the challenge facing the sector as it decarbonises. In this new study, SEO Amsterdam Economics (SEO) and Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) calculate the expenditures necessary to achieve net … Continue reading European aviation industry claims bill of €‎800bn to reach net zero emissions

One British radio programme highlights issues we face in our energy transition

The Archers is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word channel. Broadcast since 1951. It was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now promoted as "a contemporary drama in a rural setting." Ed Atkins and Ros Death from the University of Bristol … Continue reading One British radio programme highlights issues we face in our energy transition

The key challenges for Africa to transform its energy systems today

Sebastian Sterl, Assistant Professor, Energy Meteorology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses the five challenges to develop sustainable energy systems for today’s world.   Africa’s energy sector will need to transform radically - these are the five biggest challenges The future of Africa’s energy sector is getting increasing … Continue reading The key challenges for Africa to transform its energy systems today

Companies increasing fossil fuel production are contradicting goals to stop the planet heating according to head of IEA

International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol tells Ajit Niranjan of Deutsche Welle that existing oil fields, gas wells and coal mines are "more than enough" if the world is serious about its climate goals.   IEA chief slams climate 'contradictions' from oil companies The head of the powerful International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based … Continue reading Companies increasing fossil fuel production are contradicting goals to stop the planet heating according to head of IEA

Hopes that green capital markets could quickly close Europe’s green investment gap are overblown

The Jacques Delors Centre recently published a policy brief by Sebastian Mack. He argues that with key reforms of the Capital Markets Union stalled, the European Green Deal will rely mainly on bank lending. EU policymakers should acknowledge this and shift the focus to greening banks. The Jacques Delors Centre, founded by Jacques Delors in … Continue reading Hopes that green capital markets could quickly close Europe’s green investment gap are overblown

We need “no-regrets solutions” to address the climate transition

Decarbonising industry will be require to change equipment but also promote technical progress in clean alternatives while encouraging citizens and companies to reduce their consumption. Philippe Escande discusses the challenges in a column on the Le Monde website.   'The climate transition is a transformation similar in magnitude to past industrial revolutions' The ArcelorMittal steel … Continue reading We need “no-regrets solutions” to address the climate transition

The tone of how we share information on climate change can greatly affect how people engage with it

Anastasia Denisova, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, University of Westminster, writes on The Conversation website about the impact of communication. She argues that there are better ways than doomism to post about climate change on social media to help motivate people to act.   Climate doomism is bad storytelling – hope is much more effective at … Continue reading The tone of how we share information on climate change can greatly affect how people engage with it