“No regrets” revisited

Energy conservation through improved efficiency has been seen as an important long-term policy tool since the first oil crises in the 1970s. The International Energy Agency (IEA) realised that improved energy efficiency could not be a short-term solution in a crisis so it ensured that energy efficiency policies took a longer-term perspective. In 1987, the … Continue reading “No regrets” revisited →

What does net-zero emissions actually mean?

Amrou Awaysheh, Assistant Professor of Operations Management and Executive Director, Business Sustainability Lab at Indiana University explains in an article on The Conversation website what “net-zero” actually means and why it matters. More companies pledge ‘net-zero’ emissions to fight climate change, but what does that really mean? You’ll probably hear the term “net-zero emissions” a … Continue reading What does net-zero emissions actually mean? →

World’s first crewless, fully electric cargo ship to set sail

The world’s first fully autonomous and electric cargo ship will launch on its first commercial operation in Norway later this year, which if successful could transform the highly-polluting shipping industry. Lewin Day discusses latest developments in an article on the Hackaday website. The World’s First Autonomous Electric Cargo Ship Is Due To Set Sail … Continue reading World’s first crewless, fully electric cargo ship to set sail →

How solar panels provide new prospects for agriculture

Solar panels generate electricity in the fields, helping both farmers and climate protection. Gero Rueter of Deutsche Welle recently visited a German solar farm and discusses what this means for the agriculture sector. Farmers reap double benefits with solar power in fields Fabian Karthaus grew up with solar energy. "My father built the first … Continue reading How solar panels provide new prospects for agriculture →

What does it take to improve the energy performance of Britain’s homes?

When I worked at the International Energy Agency in the 1980s, we were discussing how Britain had to give more attention to improving the energy performance of its building stock, given how poor quality they were overall. In 1990, the then Department of Environment even published an excellent report of a survey on “Attitudes to … Continue reading What does it take to improve the energy performance of Britain’s homes? →

Recent Chinese study suggests that there may be clues to changes in past weather conditions in buildings

The study from researchers at Nanjing University in China provides an eloquent reminder of how natural variation in the weather has been an influence on architecture throughout history, often as much as changing styles and tastes. Florian Urban, Professor of Architectural History, Glasgow School of Art, reviews the results of the study in an article … Continue reading Recent Chinese study suggests that there may be clues to changes in past weather conditions in buildings →

In new multi-country survey a majority of people are concerned about global climate change and are willing to make lifestyle changes to reduce its effects

In all the countries surveyed in early 2021 except Sweden, between 60% and 90% of the citizens reported feeling somewhat or very concerned about the harm they would personally face from climate change. Kate T. Luong, Ed Maibach and John Kotcher of George Mason University write about the latest PEW survey in an article on … Continue reading In new multi-country survey a majority of people are concerned about global climate change and are willing to make lifestyle changes to reduce its effects →

Concerns about widespread lapses in climate risk reporting found in company accounts

Over 70% of some of world’s biggest corporate emitters failed to disclose the effects of climate risk in 2020 financial statements. 80% of their auditors showed no evidence of assessing climate risk when reporting. The report is discussed in an article on the Carbon Tracker website. Flying blind: The glaring absence of climate risks … Continue reading Concerns about widespread lapses in climate risk reporting found in company accounts →

Negotiators at COP26 will finalise plans for the global stocktake, taking a look at the collective progress the world’s nations have made on climate action

To achieve any goal, targets must be set and progress measured. This is equally true for measuring progress on the Paris climate agreement. Steven Lam from the University of Guelph, Sherilee Harper from the University of Alberta and Warren Dodd from the University of Waterloo write on The Conversation website about how the progress will … Continue reading Negotiators at COP26 will finalise plans for the global stocktake, taking a look at the collective progress the world’s nations have made on climate action →

Governments around the world gave 20% more in overseas aid funding to fossil fuel projects in 2019 and 2020 than to programmes to cut the air pollution they cause

Air pollution kills more than malaria, HIV/Aids and TB combined but receives only 1% of development aid. Damian Carrington discusses how poorly air pollution is addressed in an article on The Guardian website. More global aid goes to fossil fuel projects than tackling dirty air – study Governments around the world gave 20% more … Continue reading Governments around the world gave 20% more in overseas aid funding to fossil fuel projects in 2019 and 2020 than to programmes to cut the air pollution they cause →