Do phrases like “global boiling” actually help drive us towards faster and more effective climate action? Or do they risk making us prone to climate doomism, and risk prompting a backlash?

It has been widely reported that UN Secretary General António Guterres declared last week that the era of “global boiling” has arrived. Is this a help or a hindrance? Noel Castree, Professor of Society & Environment at the University of Technology Sydney discusses the impact of such phrases in an article on The Conversation website. … Continue reading Do phrases like “global boiling” actually help drive us towards faster and more effective climate action? Or do they risk making us prone to climate doomism, and risk prompting a backlash?

“We are kidding ourselves if we think that the oil giants will pave the way for a future where our planet is habitable”

The oil giant claims 30% of its investing budget goes to ‘transition growth engines’, but it recently ditched a target to reduce its oil output. Daniel Capurro writes on the iNews website that BP invested 11 times more money on oil and gas than on low-carbon energy in the last quarter. Earlier this year International … Continue reading “We are kidding ourselves if we think that the oil giants will pave the way for a future where our planet is habitable”

The sooner the oil industry starts facing up to the realities of climate change, the more chance it has to survive

Adi Imsirovic, Fellow at the University of Surrey writes on The Conversation website that we are in trouble since the oil and gas industry remains largely in climate denial. What are your views?   The oil industry has succumbed to a dangerous new climate denialism If we have not been warned of the dangers of … Continue reading The sooner the oil industry starts facing up to the realities of climate change, the more chance it has to survive

“Dwindling appetite for green legislation” affecting roll out of European Green Deal

At a time when we need more ambitious plans and implementation to address major concerns arising from climate change, there is an undoubted backlash for many reasons that could seriously leave us well short of the impact we need for our mitigation actions. Kira Taylor discusses latest developments in an article on the EURACTIV website. … Continue reading “Dwindling appetite for green legislation” affecting roll out of European Green Deal

Energy in Demand News, July 30, 2023

Energy in Demand News… July 30, 2023 No one said the zero carbon energy transition would be easy. This week there have been some interesting news related to making progress: A Financial Times newsletter noted that the energy transition could hinge on recycling because of a shortage of needed metals such as copper, nickel and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 30, 2023

UK candidate Jim Skea elected as new leader of IPCC

British professor, Jim Skea, was elected chair of UN’s expert panel, which warned in March that 1.5C threshold could be hit in 10 years. Importantly he recently said, “The challenges are huge, but the key thing is to not become paralysed into inaction by a sense of despair.” His new appointment is discussed in a … Continue reading UK candidate Jim Skea elected as new leader of IPCC

British high court refuses permission to environmental law charity to bring case against Shell over its climate strategy

The environmental law charity, ClientEarth, claims Shell cannot achieve net zero goal with current transition plan. A Reuters news item on the Guardian website discusses how the British high court refused to let it be argued through a lawsuit.   ClientEarth loses high court fight with Shell over climate strategy An environmental law charity has … Continue reading British high court refuses permission to environmental law charity to bring case against Shell over its climate strategy

Australians are champions in using courts to hold governments and companies to account on climate change

Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures at The University of Melbourne writes on The Conversation website about Australia using courts to address climate change. The US tops the climate litigation charts with 1,522 lawsuits filed. Australia comes second with 127. The US figure works out to about 4.6 lawsuits per million people, compared to 4.8 … Continue reading Australians are champions in using courts to hold governments and companies to account on climate change

The need for addressing embodied carbon in our buildings

An efficient EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive must look out for the reduction of ‘whole life carbon emissions’ in order to achieve Europe’s climate goals, writes Zsolt Toth from BPIE in an article on the EURACTIV website. Just published is a PhD thesis by Jane Anderson on on 'Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built … Continue reading The need for addressing embodied carbon in our buildings

Energy ministers failed to agree on phasing down fossil fuels and setting ambitious renewable energy targets at recent G20 meeting

The world’s largest economies failed to agree on targets to phase down fossil fuels and scale up renewables. What sort of impact will this have on upcoming COP28 later this year? Matteo Civillini and Reuters discuss latest developments in an article on the Climate Change News website.   G20 divisions over key climate goals pile … Continue reading Energy ministers failed to agree on phasing down fossil fuels and setting ambitious renewable energy targets at recent G20 meeting