EU to probe subsidies to Chinese solar panel manufacturers that have distorted European market

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer writes on the Euractiv website about whether subsidies allowed Chinese firms to submit unfair bids for the construction of a Romanian solar panel park. The probe reflects a hardening stance in Europe towards cheap Chinese imports, which the EU’s solar industry has blamed for the heavy losses and plant closures of several … Continue reading EU to probe subsidies to Chinese solar panel manufacturers that have distorted European market

“Ignore Energy Performance Certificate advice”: new Government policy?

The UK government has reversed its advice on improving the energy performance of buildings in order to increase the uptake of heat pumps. Andrew Warren writes on the Business Green website how the British Energy Efficiency Federation, of which he is Chairman, is questioning the analysis that led to the change in consumer advice. What … Continue reading “Ignore Energy Performance Certificate advice”: new Government policy?

Carbon Majors Update: Just 57 fossil fuel and cement producers linked to 80% of global fossil CO2 emissions produced since the Paris Agreement

On April 4th InfluenceMap published the new digital home for The Carbon Majors Database - the key international source of data on attribution of historical GHG emissions to the worlds' largest fossil fuel producers together with releasing a new report analysing the emissions data for these producers since the Paris Agreement. Matthew Carl Ives, Senior … Continue reading Carbon Majors Update: Just 57 fossil fuel and cement producers linked to 80% of global fossil CO2 emissions produced since the Paris Agreement

New global report on renewables from REN21

The Global Overview of the Renewables 2024 Global Status Report was published this week by REN21. It finds that  persistent obstacles are preventing renewables from keeping pace with rising energy demand, leading to increase in GHG emissions. Policy responses to geopolitical developments and global commitments accelerated the deployment and use of renewable energy in 2023, … Continue reading New global report on renewables from REN21

Energy in Demand News, March 31, 2024

New oil and gasfields are expected to grow fourfold despite IEA warnings, the Financial Times (behind a paywall) reported this week in their energy newsletter.  At least 20 new oil and gasfields reached final investment decisions worldwide last year and “this figure to grow nearly fourfold by the end of the decade, with another 31bn … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 31, 2024

How the climate crisis affects our brains

Clayton Page Aldern writes on the Guardian website about how climate change affects our brains. Note that his  book The Weight of Nature, on the effects of climate change on brain health, is published by Allen Lane on 4 April.   ‘Everybody has a breaking point’: how the climate crisis affects our brains Are growing rates of … Continue reading How the climate crisis affects our brains

Reclaiming ancestral farming techniques can be a step toward sustainable food systems

In an article on The Conversation website, Chelsea Fisher, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of South Carolina writes about what we can learn from ancient farmers as we adapt to climate change.   What ancient farmers can really teach us about adapting to climate change – and how political power influences success or failure In … Continue reading Reclaiming ancestral farming techniques can be a step toward sustainable food systems

Recent modelling shows that domestic peak heat demand in UK is almost 50% lower than widely cited values

A recent article on the Cell Press website provides valuable insight into the impact of 100% electrification of domestic heat in the UK. Decarbonising heat in particular is often perceived as a daunting task since natural gas serves between 60 and 80% of the domestic heat sector in countries like the UK. While there has … Continue reading Recent modelling shows that domestic peak heat demand in UK is almost 50% lower than widely cited values

New uncertainties and challenges that stand in the way of Ghana’s latest efforts to develop an integrated aluminium industry

In an article on The Conversation website, Theophilus Acheampong, Associate Lecturer, University of Aberdeen and Matthew Tyce, Lecturer in International Political Economy, King's College London discuss how the clean energy transition is affecting Ghana’s ambitions for industrial development.   Ghana’s decades-old ambition to build an integrated aluminium industry faces a new hurdle: the clean energy … Continue reading New uncertainties and challenges that stand in the way of Ghana’s latest efforts to develop an integrated aluminium industry

Bridging the attitude-behaviour gap on political climate action

The Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University in the United States recently published a new Climate Note on the attitude-behaviour gap in the US. You should find it interesting and it will be good to get comments on how relevant this is in other countries as well.   The attitude-behavior gap on … Continue reading Bridging the attitude-behaviour gap on political climate action