New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks

Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, and climate risks are threatening its energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability, and people’s health. According to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment, published this week, many of these risks have already reached critical levels and could become catastrophic without urgent and … Continue reading New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks

China lagging behind goal to reduce energy intensity

Matteo Civillini writes on the Climate Home News website that the Chinese government aims to cut the amount of energy needed for its economic growth by 2.5% in 2024, putting it far off track for a key five-year climate target.   China steps away from 2025 energy efficiency goal China looks set to miss one … Continue reading China lagging behind goal to reduce energy intensity

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

Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

This weekend sees the first of three sessions of the European Citizens' Energy Efficiency Panel in Brussels with 150 European citizens discussing how energy may be used in the EU and how the energy system should change. Participants are focusing on different aspects of energy efficiency that consumers might encounter at home, in communities or … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

How to deliver the COP 29 energy efficiency target

In an article in the February issue of the Energy in Buildings & Industry magazine, Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, looks at some of the proposals from the recent Davos Summit which could help to reduce energy demand while helping to drive growth and productivity.   Practical ways to get the … Continue reading How to deliver the COP 29 energy efficiency target

New EEA briefing on initiatives taken in Europe on waste management and circular economy

Recycling, repair, re-use or reducing material consumption through circular business models can provide important additional reductions in GHG emissions helping to boost Europe’s climate change mitigation efforts, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week.   Better links between waste management, circular economy and climate change mitigation measures can boost greenhouse gas … Continue reading New EEA briefing on initiatives taken in Europe on waste management and circular economy

Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024

Financing the climate and energy transition is facing ever more difficulties – as I’m sure you see in your own country. At the global level, COP26 in Glasgow approved the Just Energy Transition Partnerships, a  landmark climate finance framework endorsed by world leaders as a way to fund the green transition in poorer countries. However, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024

Czech steel industry is unprepared for decarbonisation both technologically and financially

Ondřej Plevák discusses the challenges the Czech steel industry is facing to decarbonise in an article on the Euractiv website.   Czech steel industry unprepared for EU decarbonisation The Czech steel industry is unprepared for decarbonisation, not only technologically but also financially, making it difficult to implement the EU’s decarbonisation plans, experts say. Experts polled … Continue reading Czech steel industry is unprepared for decarbonisation both technologically and financially

Small modular reactors (SMRs) still included in EU’s climate strategy

Nathan Canas and Paul Messad write on the Euractiv website how SMRs are expected to contribute to achieving the energy and climate objectives of the EU’s European Green Deal.   EU aims to deploy Europe’s first small nuclear reactor ‘by 2030’ Small modular reactors (SMRs) will be partly relied upon to meet the EU’s 2040 … Continue reading Small modular reactors (SMRs) still included in EU’s climate strategy

European solar panel manufacturers are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector

As part of its ‘Green Deal Industrial Plan’, the EU wants to boost the domestic production of key technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps, in order to reduce dependence on China. By 2030, the European Commission wants to see 40% of the European demand for solar panels being produced in Europe, … Continue reading European solar panel manufacturers are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector