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
Category: climate change
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
More assessment on how the global insurance industry is prepared for climate change
Following the actions of the Bank of England, there is more analysis on the insurance industry. This article by Jacqueline Nelson in Canada’s Globe and Mail reports on recently published analysis. Insurers lack ‘preparedness’ in climate cases, study finds The effects of climate change could lead to stormy conditions for global insurers – and … Continue reading More assessment on how the global insurance industry is prepared for climate change
UK’s central bank contacts insurance companies about assessing risk from climate change
Pilita Clark writes in the Financial Times about the Bank of England’s effort to contact the major insurance companies about their views on climate change the viability of their current business models. This is good to see and it will be interesting to see if other central banks do likewise. BoE demands climate answers … Continue reading UK’s central bank contacts insurance companies about assessing risk from climate change
Addressing climate change: investing in infrastructure and the need for structural adjustment
In September, the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate (chaired by former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón and Lord Stern) published its major report, The New Climate Economy Report. This report is playing an important role preparing the need for a global commitment on climate change, hopefully at the climate conference in Paris in … Continue reading Addressing climate change: investing in infrastructure and the need for structural adjustment
Look who is supporting ambitious EU climate and energy targets
There are negotiations going on before the climate and energy targets for 2030 are decided upon last week. When you look at it graphically, it shows quite clearly where member states stand. The energy efficiency community has now to raise its voice. Only yesterday, the British energy secretary said there was room for compromise, but … Continue reading Look who is supporting ambitious EU climate and energy targets
Latest update on climate finance
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the September update on global developments in sustainable energy finance. September 2014 Climate Finance Update October 2014: In September 2014, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Climate Investment Funds (CIF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the International … Continue reading Latest update on climate finance
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 