How eco-friendly is wind power really?

Wind power is essential to fighting climate change, yet building the turbines is energy-intensive and the blades are made from plastics. So how eco-friendly is wind power really? Gero Rueter discusses the sustainability of wind power in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   How sustainable is wind power? Together with solar power, wind … Continue reading How eco-friendly is wind power really?

Pinpointing the most efficient combinations of materials to make clean energy from wasted heat

Jan-Hendrik Pöhls at McMaster University in Canada, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses a new way to convert wasted heat into useful electricity. What are your views?   A new approach finds materials that can turn waste heat into electricity The need to transition to clean energy is apparent, urgent and inescapable. We must … Continue reading Pinpointing the most efficient combinations of materials to make clean energy from wasted heat

A green lifestyle is very good for us indeed

Researchers analysed 18 carbon-cutting measures at home and at work in areas such as food, transport and energy and assessed the impact of each on issues such as health, clean air and water quality. Of the 306 categories they looked at, 79 % were positive for wellbeing. Tom Bawden discusses the study in an article … Continue reading A green lifestyle is very good for us indeed

Can aviation make the transition to a low-carbon future – and perhaps even reach net-zero emissions?

Emma Rachel Whittlesea and Tim Ryley at Griffith University in Australia address that question by arguing that significant technological and energy disruption on the horizon for the industry suggests such a future is possible. They discuss the issues in an article on The Conversation website.   Blue-sky thinking: net-zero aviation is more than a flight … Continue reading Can aviation make the transition to a low-carbon future – and perhaps even reach net-zero emissions?

Blog from Jane Marsh: How Does Low Carbon Housing Benefit the Environment?

The U.S. generates 5.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, which come from activities like powering appliances or heating your home. In addition, carbon is released when building materials, such as concrete, are manufactured. The overproduction of carbon can lead to air pollution and increase global warming. These emissions also disturb natural habitats … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: How Does Low Carbon Housing Benefit the Environment?

“Climate alarmism, government intervention and related ideas promoted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce are clearly contrary to business interests”

Matthew Lau, from Canada’s Fraser Institute, writes on the National Newswatch website about the Ontario Chamber of Commerce says that its embrace of climate science and economics are misguided and no help to business. The Fraser Institute is an independent conservative and libertarian Canadian public policy think tank. What are your views? What are the … Continue reading “Climate alarmism, government intervention and related ideas promoted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce are clearly contrary to business interests”

Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has recently published two important reports.   Mobilizing citizens to invest in energy efficiency One example of a way for citizens to contribute to the low-carbon energy transition is by investing in energy efficiency (EE). However, there are still multiple barriers that make the socially optimal level of adoption … Continue reading Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre

European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport

The European Commission is proposing more sustainable travel, led by efforts to make Europe’s rail system the default mode of transport. Daniel Boffey discusses in an article on The Guardian website. The Commission’s press release on this proposal is available here.   Faster trains and cheaper tickets to boost European rail travel in new strategy … Continue reading European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport

EU and its 27 Member States need to look how they can improve the current target of achieving an at least 55% reduction of net GHG emissions by 2030

The EU is not on track to achieve the 1.5°C climate target. Wendel Trio, in a Climate Science and Policy Briefing Paper, argues that the EU must revisit its current pledge. The author argues that o be aligned with the 1.5°C objective a GHG emission reduction target of at least -65% is needed.   The … Continue reading EU and its 27 Member States need to look how they can improve the current target of achieving an at least 55% reduction of net GHG emissions by 2030

European Commission publishes proposals for revising buildings directive and gas package

According to the European Consumer Organisation BEUC, consumers will benefit from new basic housing standards that will allow them to use less energy to heat or cool their homes, according to the European Commission’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive announced this week, part of its ‘Fit for 55’ climate package. However, the Commission’s Gas Package … Continue reading European Commission publishes proposals for revising buildings directive and gas package