SBTi stirs up controversy

A decade ago, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was launched with the goal of mobilising the private sector for climate action. Today, it stands as the largest and most influential validator of corporate climate targets, having confirmed the 2030 goals of around 5,000 companies. But not all is going well. Employees at SBTi have … Continue reading SBTi stirs up controversy →

Europe needs €800bn to meet 2030 climate targets, says industry

The Brussels-based European Round Table for Industry this week published two new reports by the Boston Consulting Group that lay out the state of play and articulate the challenges in Europe’s energy transition. As the countdown continues to the European elections and appointment of the next European Commission later this year, the European Round Table … Continue reading Europe needs €800bn to meet 2030 climate targets, says industry →

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? →

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 →

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 →

Energy in Demand News, March 24, 2024

"The state of the climate in 2023 gave ominous new significance to the phrase ‘off the charts.'" That quote introduced the World Meteorological Organization’s latest annual report. It confirms that 2023 was the hottest year on record by a clear margin. Records were broken for ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice loss and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 24, 2024 →

Sufficiency concerns: Aussie homes are getting bigger, wiping out energy efficiency gains

Kate Wingrove, PhD Candidate at the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, University of Wollongong and Emma Heffernan, Associate Professor in Architecture, University of Sydney write on The Conversation website about the trend in Australia for ever bigger homes. This has to be a concern as the country addresses climate change. What is happening in your country? … Continue reading Sufficiency concerns: Aussie homes are getting bigger, wiping out energy efficiency gains →

New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe

Despite legislative steps forward over the past five years, efforts to transform Europe’s largely linear, ‘throw-away’ economy into a circular one will require further bold action and strong implementation of existing measures. Decisive action is essential to drastically reduce waste, prioritise reduction of resource use, improve recycling rates and improve the introduction of products that … Continue reading New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe →