Children and young people are a big part of COP27

Aoife Daly, Lecturer in Law at University College Cork writes on the Conversation website about how young people are playing an increasingly important role at the UN climate summit this year. COP27: how young climate activists are changing international human rights law World leaders and climate scientists aren’t the only ones who have gathered … Continue reading Children and young people are a big part of COP27 →

New EEA briefing on how to keep buildings cool sustainably

Europe’s temperatures are rising more than twice as fast as the global average with more and more extreme heatwaves being recorded. The demand for sustainable cooling in buildings is increasing and, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, there is a need for buildings that are energy efficient, use passive cooling … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how to keep buildings cool sustainably →

Challenges for New Zealand to reduce its GHG emissions from agricultural sector

With agriculture representing 50% of New Zealand’s GHG emissions in 2020, there is no surprise that the priority must be given to that industry. In an article on The Conversation website, Ian Mason, Research Fellow in Renewable Energy Systems Engineering at University of Canterbury discusses many of the ways forward. From farming to fermentation: … Continue reading Challenges for New Zealand to reduce its GHG emissions from agricultural sector →

While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay?

Loss and damage has been at the heart of much media reporting about the upcoming Cop27 climate talks in Egypt in November. With many disasters recently, such as the flooding in Pakistan, the importance of loss and damage compensation gains attention. Isabella Kaminski writes on the Climate Change News about the challenges involved. She notes that … Continue reading While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay? →

Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels

Chris Brown writes on the CBC News website about the pressure that the shipping industry is under, given that all sectors of the economy are having to find an appropriate path to net-zero emissions. Importantly, one company, Copenhagen-based Maersk, until recently the world's No. 1 container shipper over the past 25 years, has set one … Continue reading Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels →

“Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability

With carefully designed debt-for-climate swaps and support from international institutions, developing countries could expand their finance for desperately needed climate mitigation and adaptation actions and remove some of their heavy debt burden. Soyoung Oh, Junior Research Fellow, The Fletcher School at Tufts University discusses her views in an article on The Conversation website. How … Continue reading “Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability →

By placing sensors within a home, energy efficiency can be measured in the same way as energy generation

We all know that our policies and programmes need more data of actual energy performance. Om an article on the Architecture Today website, Matthew Prowse, Specification and Housing Director for Knauf Insulation, discusses how homes being designed today can prepare for the imminent shift to measured ‘in-use’ energy performance. Measured energy efficiency is coming, … Continue reading By placing sensors within a home, energy efficiency can be measured in the same way as energy generation →

New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) recently released a briefing titled “International Investment Governance and Achieving a Just Zero-Carbon Future,” available in both English and French. The briefing discusses how the current international investment regime is hostile to states’ ability to address the climate crisis and will deter, delay or water down states’ climate-related … Continue reading New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future →

EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation

As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation →

France’s largest bank under pressure to stop financing the development of fossil fuels

NGOs which previously took the French government to court have taken steps towards a lawsuit against the bank, the world's leading financer of oil and gas majors. Stéphane Mandard discusses latest developments in an article on the English section of the Le Monde website. BNP Paribas warned to stop financing fossil fuels and 'climate … Continue reading France’s largest bank under pressure to stop financing the development of fossil fuels →