The “roiling debate over the value of ESG ratings”

Something does not seem right when a major stock index that tracks sustainable investments dropped electric vehicle-maker Tesla from its list in May 2022 – but it kept oil giant ExxonMobil. Tom Lyon, Professor of Sustainable Science, Technology and Commerce and Business Economics, at the University of Michigan discusses the issues in an article on … Continue reading The “roiling debate over the value of ESG ratings”

Johnson Controls publishes its latest annual energy efficiency indicator survey

This week Johnson Controls released its latest survey which revealed that 62 percent of organisations surveyed expect to increase investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, or smart building technology in 2022, indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels.     Johnson Controls Annual Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey Reveals Investments in Sustainability have Rebounded to Pre-Pandemic Levels, … Continue reading Johnson Controls publishes its latest annual energy efficiency indicator survey

If ESG is to live up to its potential, we’re still a long way from making it meaningful

In an article on The Conversation website, Marc Lepere, PhD Candidate in Political Economy at King's College London discusses many of the concerns about the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) label. Fortunately, there is hope for the future.   Green investing: the global system for rating companies’ ethical credentials is meaningless As the war in Ukraine … Continue reading If ESG is to live up to its potential, we’re still a long way from making it meaningful

Maintaining liveability in future cities will depend on institutions that are able to recognise the needs and capacities of informal settlement dwellers

With a billion of the world’s most climate-vulnerable people living in informal settlements, we need to find ways to help them because the scale of the climate change challenge is such that communities can no longer deliver adaptation alone. Vanesa Castán Broto, Professor of Climate Urbanism at the University of Sheffield; Emmanuel Osuteye, Lecturer in … Continue reading Maintaining liveability in future cities will depend on institutions that are able to recognise the needs and capacities of informal settlement dwellers

As governments redirect emergency aid to Ukraine, they need to find additional funds for climate finance and not pitch the two crises against each other

Mattias Söderberg, chief advisor at humanitarian NGO DanChurchAid, provides his views on the need to keep financing climate change in an article on the Climate Change News website.   Climate finance should not be made to compete with aid to Ukraine A little over four months ago, ministers from developed countries attending the Cop26 UN … Continue reading As governments redirect emergency aid to Ukraine, they need to find additional funds for climate finance and not pitch the two crises against each other

Review of G20 fiscal stimulus spending counters many countries’ green pledges to ‘build back better’

Fiona Harvey gives us a wake up call to pay more attention to so-called green financing in an article on The Guardian website. Only about 6% of pandemic recovery spending has been “green”, an analysis of the $14tn that G20 countries have poured into economic stimulus.   Only 6% of G20 pandemic recovery spending ‘green’, … Continue reading Review of G20 fiscal stimulus spending counters many countries’ green pledges to ‘build back better’

What does the Energy Charter Treaty have to do with the Ukraine crisis?

The German government has been worried about being sued by the fossil fuel companies behind the Russian gas pipeline. This potential litigation is due to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). Yamina Saheb, a friend of EiD used to head the ECT’s energy efficiency unit and is now an energy policy analyst at the OpenExp think … Continue reading What does the Energy Charter Treaty have to do with the Ukraine crisis?

China’s removal of renewable energy subsidy will affect fight against climate change

China, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is also the largest user of energy and amid this, the country's growing population is putting pressure on Beijing to amend plans to fulfil its ever-growing energy needs. China's subsidy policy was mostly to cover excessive installation and production costs of renewable energy but the country has decided … Continue reading China’s removal of renewable energy subsidy will affect fight against climate change

Irish government launches the National Retrofitting Scheme

The Irish government recently approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in … Continue reading Irish government launches the National Retrofitting Scheme

The price of European carbon allowances (EUAs) is not yet high enough to drive structural decarbonisation

With high energy prices dominating the political agenda and politicians in certain EU member states training their sights on the bloc's carbon market, there is one salient fact being missed in all the hubbub: ETS emissions likely increased by 6% in 2021, and are set to rise further again this year. Self-evidently, this means that … Continue reading The price of European carbon allowances (EUAs) is not yet high enough to drive structural decarbonisation