Young climate activists just won a ‘historic’ settlement

The settlement in Hawaii, described as a “world first,” will legally require Hawaii’s transport department to fully decarbonise and achieve zero emissions by 2045. Dharna Noor and Lois Beckett discuss the settlement in an article on the Guardian website. Youth activists win ‘unprecedented’ climate settlement in Hawaii The state of Hawaii and more than … Continue reading Young climate activists just won a ‘historic’ settlement →

Energy in Demand News, June 9, 2024

Global investors are turning their backs on sustainability-focused stock funds. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) reports that they cite poor performance, scandals and attacks from US Republicans. “Clients have withdrawn a net $40bn from environmental, social and governance (ESG) equity funds this year, according to research from Barclays, the first year that flows have … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 9, 2024 →

A global survey of more than 740 reporters and editors from 102 countries documents the threats they receive

Nina Lakhani writes on The Guardian website about a recent study that documents the threats journalists are receiving as they cover the climate crisis. As one researcher said: “This study, for the first time, offers truly global insights on reporting climate change and environmental harms … Such insights are crucial in order to support and … Continue reading A global survey of more than 740 reporters and editors from 102 countries documents the threats they receive →

Energy in Demand, May 26, 2024

With elections for the European Parliament approaching on June 6-9, predictions are for a surge of right wing parties and a consequent erosion of the climate and energy agenda. According to The Economist election tracker, “the environment, including terms such as “climate change”, is a hot topic on the continent’s fringes: it’s most often searched … Continue reading Energy in Demand, May 26, 2024 →

Global climate policy and action plans also largely fail to speak to gender and childhood vulnerabilities

In an article on The Conversation website, Grace M. Jaramillo, Lecturer, School of Global and International Affairs, University of British Columbia discusses gender and childhood issues that are impacted on climate policy. Importantly, Dr. Jaramillo led a team of student researchers to do relevant field research in the Dominican Republic to better understand the issues. … Continue reading Global climate policy and action plans also largely fail to speak to gender and childhood vulnerabilities →

UN’s outgoing leading environment and human rights expert says that states failing to take meaningful climate action and regulating polluting industries could soon face a slew of lawsuits

Outgoing special rapporteur David Boyd says ‘there’s something wrong with our brains that we can’t understand how grave this is’. Nina Lakhani explains in an article on the Guardian website. UN expert attacks ‘exploitative’ world economy in fight to save planet The race to save the planet is being impeded by a global economy … Continue reading UN’s outgoing leading environment and human rights expert says that states failing to take meaningful climate action and regulating polluting industries could soon face a slew of lawsuits →

Energy in Demand News, April 14, 2024

This week Politico reported about a leaked draft report outlining the EU’s priorities for the next five years. It hardly mentions climate and shockingly only mentions “environment” as a promise to create a “business-friendly environment.” The report says that green groups are incensed. “This plan expects 20th-century military strategy to protect people from 21st-century security … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 14, 2024 →

An international agreement on limiting the supply of fossil fuels is needed

The latest science on climate change is unequivocal: the world must eliminate fossil fuel-based energy systems – and fast. Such a phase-out requires international cooperation to restrict the supply of fossil fuels, including coal, oil and gas. This won’t be easy, but it is possible. In an article on The Conversation website, Harro van Asselt, … Continue reading An international agreement on limiting the supply of fossil fuels is needed →

Switzerland’s condemnation by the ECHR is a valuable development in the fight against global warming

Can a state be held liable for failing to protect its citizens from the consequences of climate change? By answering this question in the affirmative on Tuesday, April 9, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) handed down an unprecedented decision. This ruling should set a precedent in the 46 member states of the Council … Continue reading Switzerland’s condemnation by the ECHR is a valuable development in the fight against global warming →

Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024

The bad news from the IEA this week is that, globally, CO2 emissions increased by 410 million tonnes, or 1.1%, in 2023. The good news from the IEA is that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose less strongly in 2023 than the year before even as total energy demand growth accelerated. IEA analysis shows that the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024 →