The Luxembourg government has decided to exit the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), an international trade and investment agreement concluded in the early 1990s to protect investments in the energy sector, Luxembourg’s Minister of Energy and Spatial Planning, Claude Turmes, announced on Friday 18 November. Frédéric Simon discusses latest developments in an article on the Euractiv website. … Continue reading The latest EU state to leave the Energy Charter Treaty: Luxembourg
Category: climate policy
A country’s ability to pursue major energy reforms hinges on the government’s capacity to defuse political opposition
Jared Finnegan, Lecturer in Public Policy at University College London (UCL) writes on The Conversation website about why some have been more successful than others in pursuing energy reform. Energy transitions: why countries respond differently to the same problem Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended global energy markets. Sanctions on Russian exports and the suspension … Continue reading A country’s ability to pursue major energy reforms hinges on the government’s capacity to defuse political opposition
Carbon emissions: “You have to ask: When are they going to go down?”
Pandemic recovery and an uptick in the use of coal amid the Ukraine war are significant drivers behind carbon emissions. Roshni Majumdar discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. COP27: Fossil fuel carbon emissions to hit all-time high Climate scientists warned Friday that harmful carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels … Continue reading Carbon emissions: “You have to ask: When are they going to go down?”
Comprehensive action is needed to make up for Australia’s woeful performance on energy efficiency over recent decades
Hugh Saddler, Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University writes on The Conversation website about a new governmental consultation paper on what it calls its National Energy Performance Strategy. Let’s hope Australia’s new government gets policies and programmes on the right track. What are your views? Australia’s record on … Continue reading Comprehensive action is needed to make up for Australia’s woeful performance on energy efficiency over recent decades
EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation
As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation
The “perfect solution” to climate change and energy security?
The presidency of upcoming climate talks is embracing fossil gas as a “transition” fuel, despite its polluting impact. Joe Lo discusses latest developments in an article on the Climate Change News website. Cop27 host Egypt plans to push gas as ‘the perfect solution’ Cop27 host Egypt and 16 other gas-exporting governments have pledged to … Continue reading The “perfect solution” to climate change and energy security?
New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption
GHG emissions and energy consumption rose in 2021 due mostly to Europe’s post-pandemic recovery, according to the latest ‘Trends and Projections’ report published this week by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Most EU Member States successfully achieved the EU’s 2020 climate and energy targets and are now turning their sights toward climate neutrality while also … Continue reading New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption
Can COP 27 help close the emissions gap?
The window to reign in climate-wrecking emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is fast closing, says a new UN report. Societal transformation may be the only way to avoid a coming calamity. Stuart Braun discusses the recent report in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Climate crisis: Widening emissions gap threatens … Continue reading Can COP 27 help close the emissions gap?
Who will claim Crimea’s GHG emissions?
Countries usually try to lower emissions, but both Kyiv and Moscow claim Crimea’s carbon impact as their own. Michael Birnbaum discusses this strange situation in an article on the Washington Post website. At war, Russia aims to claim Ukraine’s land — and its carbon emissions Countries usually try to lower their carbon emissions, not … Continue reading Who will claim Crimea’s GHG emissions?
The transition to “smart cities”
Europe is making good progress in getting urban areas into the digital age. A survey in 10 EU member states found that 88% of cities have started their digital transformation and that 69% were planning to invest in tech solutions in the next three years. Molly Killeen discusses latest developments in an article on the … Continue reading The transition to “smart cities”
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 