Concerns whether the approach taken by the EU will achieve the ambitious emissions targets

While Europe is recognised to be at the forefront of ambition in reducing GHG emissions, Beth Gardiner write in the New York Times that there are many who are raising concerns that the targets have been affected by deals including the push by coal-dependent Poland to continue on that path. With the global climate negotiations … Continue reading Concerns whether the approach taken by the EU will achieve the ambitious emissions targets →

Opinion on a possible carbon tax in the US

Following the agreement between the US and China on curbing emissions, there has been considerable attention paid to the way forward. Eduardo Porter recently wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times arguing that a carbon tax is the one tool available to trim carbon emissions on a relevant scale but that it remains … Continue reading Opinion on a possible carbon tax in the US →

The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives

Mat Hope writes on the Carbon Brief website about the latest Emissions Gap report of the United Nations Environment Programme and the growing awareness that improved energy efficiency must play a more important role. Alas, it is unfortunate that the European Council did not understand this when it downplayed the role improved energy efficiency would … Continue reading The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives →

What if the climate change problem were instead treated as a moral issue

Ever since Obama reached a deal with China over reducing carbon emissions, the issue of climate change has strengthened in the US. David Ignatius, an opinion writer for the Washington Post, provides a thought-provoking column that you should enjoy. The moral issue of climate change The politics of selfishness was embraced enthusiastically last week … Continue reading What if the climate change problem were instead treated as a moral issue →

Understanding why China committed to renewable energy

Everyone praised the landmark agreement between the US and China on addressing GHG emissions. Kiley Kroh wrote on the Climateprogress website about China realising that business as usual could not be the way forward. China’s Gigantic New Commitment To Renewable Energy, Explained Late Tuesday night, the U.S. and China announced an historic agreement to … Continue reading Understanding why China committed to renewable energy →

India shows its commitment to energy efficiency

Last week G20 members endorsed the G20 Energy Efficiency Action Plan. While being a voluntary initiative, it should raise the profile of energy efficiency globally. Urmi Goswami writes in the Economic Times that India has welcomed the initiative. This is important because it shows India’s commitment to both improved energy efficiency and addressing climate change. … Continue reading India shows its commitment to energy efficiency →

Neuroscience and climate change

Greg Harman writes an interesting article in The Guardian about why many people are not responding to the mounting evidence of the huge impacts of climate change. Your brain on climate change: why the threat produces apathy, not action Voter behavior has long held mysteries for both politicians and psychologists. Why do poor and … Continue reading Neuroscience and climate change →

Trying to kick the carbon habit

Andrew Simms, a well known author and Fellow at the New Economics Foundation, recently wrote an interesting column in The Guardian that we need to kick the carbon habit and shift to benign sources before our life support systems are ruined. Like Daedalus, we should use our judgment to thrive within limits “I would … Continue reading Trying to kick the carbon habit →

‘Diktats’ on renewable energy and energy efficiency?

Jessica Shankleman writes on the BusinessGreen website how the British Prime Minister protected national interests by ensuring that there is no binding EU energy efficiency target and the one for renewable energy is only binding at the EU level. The Prime Minister referred to avoiding binding ‘diktats’. One wonders what the real national interest is. … Continue reading ‘Diktats’ on renewable energy and energy efficiency? →

European Environment Agency assesses how EU meeting 2020 climate and energy targets

The European Environment Agency recently published a set of documents assessing the EU’s progress in meeting 2020 climate and energy targets Policies put the EU on track to meet its 2020 climate and energy targets but bigger push needed for 2030 European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions fell almost 2 % between 2012 and … Continue reading European Environment Agency assesses how EU meeting 2020 climate and energy targets →