New EEA briefing on the benefits of investing in clean technology and a green industry in Europe

Europe has committed to ambitious sustainability targets in the coming decades, including achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This transition requires large investments while public budgets are under increasing pressure from security needs, inflation, ageing population, and other priorities. Published this week, a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis looks at this challenge and identifies investments in … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the benefits of investing in clean technology and a green industry in Europe →

Economists underestimate climate risk, says Finance Watch

In a new report, the NGO judges that by underestimating the financial repercussions of climate change, economists are encouraging politicians to inaction. Climate risk is growing to disruptive levels throughout the financial system and the guardians of financial stability urgently need to adapt their tools to regain control. Finance Watch’s new report published on its … Continue reading Economists underestimate climate risk, says Finance Watch →

Emerging markets will need $1.5 trillion in investment before 2035 to make new and existing buildings environmentally friendly and avoid a jump in climate-damaging emissions

Tommy Wilkes and Simon Jessop write on the Reuter’s website that emerging markets will need $1.5 trillion in investment before 2035 to avoid a jump in climate-damaging emissions. China alone would need $1.33 trillion. The funds would be used for investments in electrification of older inefficient buildings with cleaner energy, and the construction of energy-efficient … Continue reading Emerging markets will need $1.5 trillion in investment before 2035 to make new and existing buildings environmentally friendly and avoid a jump in climate-damaging emissions →

Summary of UN Summits Week 2023

Last week, the UN Headquarters was busy with the General Debate of the 78th session of the General Assembly together with summits on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and on climate change. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) does an incredible job … Continue reading Summary of UN Summits Week 2023 →

New publication on review of renewable energy support schemes in Europe for 2020 and 2021

This week the Council of European Energy Regulators, CEER, published its Status Review of Renewable Support Schemes in Europe for 2020 and 2021. This report constitutes the latest update to the regular CEER Status Reviews on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) support and builds on the previous CEER reports. The publication collects comparable data on support … Continue reading New publication on review of renewable energy support schemes in Europe for 2020 and 2021 →

Europe needs a green industrial policy

As the European elections draw near, Paris and Berlin should move towards a common European approach to industrial policy – with three key elements: vision, funding, and governance, argue Sabine Nallinger and Thomas Pellerin-Carlin in an article on the EURACTIV website. Sabine Nallinger is managing director of Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft, a German CEO alliance of more … Continue reading Europe needs a green industrial policy →

The world’s poorest countries, mostly in Africa, are effectively priced out of the clean energy action by a global lending system that considers them too risky for investment

Max Bearak writes on the New York Times website about the lack of access to needed financing. A big obstacle is the lack of loans, a subject of intense disagreement between richer and poorer countries. But in Congo, where Mr. Bearak is writing from, a hard-fought solar investment shows a possible path forward. Clean … Continue reading The world’s poorest countries, mostly in Africa, are effectively priced out of the clean energy action by a global lending system that considers them too risky for investment →

No banks disclosed the share of total finance directed towards climate solutions in the last year, according to analysis by the TPI Centre

Only 6 of 26 banks have disclosed a commitment to end all on- and off-balance sheet activities that finance new coal capacity immediately. Only one of the banks’ net zero emissions commitments covers on and off-balance sheets activities. Five banks have publicly disclosed the quantitative results of climate scenario analysis to their shareholders and clients. … Continue reading No banks disclosed the share of total finance directed towards climate solutions in the last year, according to analysis by the TPI Centre →

One of the issues with ESG is how difficult it is for investors, consumers and the public to assess how effectively companies have implemented it

In an article on the Conversation website, Daniel Tsai, Lecturer in Business and Law at the University of Toronto and Peer Zumbansen, Professor of Business Law at McGill University discuss the need for changes to how ESG is implemented. The lack of government leadership and the fragmentation of the ESG landscape has created uncertainty about … Continue reading One of the issues with ESG is how difficult it is for investors, consumers and the public to assess how effectively companies have implemented it →

Africa climate summit adopts ‘Nairobi declaration’

The first ever Africa Climate Summit ended on Wednesday with a call for world leaders to back global taxes to fund climate action. The "Nairobi declaration" also calls for financial reforms to help African countries. The text is intended to define the shared position of the 54 countries of the African continent ahead of the … Continue reading Africa climate summit adopts ‘Nairobi declaration’ →