Blog from Jane Marsh: How Much Does Climate Change Cost the Economy?

Over the past century, planet Earth has experienced various changes to its atmosphere's composition and weather patterns. The growing endangered species list and frequency of natural disasters signify the global ecosystem's price for our actions. Our environmental education and media exposure focus on ecological destruction. Though this is a major cause of rising global temperatures, … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: How Much Does Climate Change Cost the Economy? →

The forest protection carbon offsetting market used by major airlines for claims of carbon-neutral flying faces a significant credibility problem

As we lift the restrictions from the Covid pandemic, many more will be flying for work or holidays. If you plan to fly, first read this article by Patrick Greenfield in The Guardian about growing concerns about carbon offsets. Carbon offsets used by major airlines based on flawed system, warn experts The forest protection … Continue reading The forest protection carbon offsetting market used by major airlines for claims of carbon-neutral flying faces a significant credibility problem →

European Commission updates its EU industrial strategy

This week the European Commission updated the EU Industrial Strategy to ensure that its industrial ambition takes full account of the new circumstances following the COVID-19 crisis and helps to drive the transformation to a more sustainable, digital, resilient and globally competitive economy. It shows support for industrial sectors that are strategic to the European … Continue reading European Commission updates its EU industrial strategy →

Net zero targets are a powerful way to signal common cause between nations but a sense of solidarity requires these targets be consistent with demands for climate justice

The Paris Agreement broke a long-standing political deadlock by allowing each country to develop its own nationally determined contribution to cutting global emissions. Net zero can be an important focus for climate action. Three academics argue that it must not become a set of blinkers that seeks to compel all countries down a single path. … Continue reading Net zero targets are a powerful way to signal common cause between nations but a sense of solidarity requires these targets be consistent with demands for climate justice →

Keeping temperature rises below 1.5℃ cannot be guaranteed, given the history of action to date, but the goal is certainly not impossible

From now until COP26 we are going to read more and more about the challenges to keep temperatures below 1.5℃. Some are arguing it is already impossible. But four eminent academics argue that with the right political action, we can achieve such an objective. Bill Hare, Director, Climate Analytics, Adjunct Professor, Murdoch University (Perth), Visiting … Continue reading Keeping temperature rises below 1.5℃ cannot be guaranteed, given the history of action to date, but the goal is certainly not impossible →

Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system

In the last 15 years, the US has seen a dramatic change in its shift to a carbon-free electric power system. Ryan Wiser, Bentham Paulos, Dev Millstein and Joseph Rand from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory write on The Conversation website about this shift. Pay particular attention to what has happened to projected energy demand. … Continue reading Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system →

The EU is addressing climate change through the potentially potent tool of fine print of financial regulations

Jill Ward, Silla Brush and John Ainger from Bloomberg write on the Washington Post website about the EU embedding environmental goals in standards for banks, money managers, insurers and member states’ public spending plans. Why EU Climate Weapon Is in the Financial Fine Print The fight against climate change involves more than wind turbines … Continue reading The EU is addressing climate change through the potentially potent tool of fine print of financial regulations →

More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are not yet taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient

A news item on the Dutch News website discusses the problems in getting homeowners to take action to make their homes more energy efficient. Are you finding the same problems in your country? More than half of home owners are not boosting energy efficiency More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are … Continue reading More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are not yet taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient →

Climate change: “recently, more reasons for optimism have emerged than we’ve seen for decades’

Gabi Mocatta, Lecturer in Communication, Deakin University, and Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication, Climate Futures Program at the University of Tasmania and Rebecca Harris, Senior Lecturer in Climatology, Director, Climate Futures Program, also at the University of Tasmania provide a sense of optimism in our addressing climate change in an article on The Conversation … Continue reading Climate change: “recently, more reasons for optimism have emerged than we’ve seen for decades’ →

Germany benefits from citizen assembly on environmental ambitions

Inspired by citizens’ assemblies in Ireland and France, Germany is doing the same. One hundred and sixty Germans, four major issues, one goal: for lawmakers to live up to their climate pledges. The Citizen Assembly is set to debate Germany's environmental ambitions and make sure its voices are heard. Martin Kuebler discusses recent developments in … Continue reading Germany benefits from citizen assembly on environmental ambitions →