The UK has some of the least energy-efficient homes in Europe, with 19 million houses and flats needing extra insulation. In February the national Climate Change Committee said the government’s policy on insulation was ‘very poor’ and a lot more needed to be done. However, the government, with its new Energy Security Strategy, will not … Continue reading Because “British people are no-nonsense pragmatists who can make decisions based on the information” the government will not “impose” measures to improve energy efficiency
Category: climate policy
One MEP makes powerful argument for Europe giving more focus to energy efficiency
modern thermostats, and building insulation - could go a long way toward enabling the EU to cut dependence on Russia’s natural gas and petroleum products. As it is, the EU is the single largest customer for Russia's natural gas and petroleum products. Russia accounts for around 40 per cent of the EU's gas imports and … Continue reading One MEP makes powerful argument for Europe giving more focus to energy efficiency
Putting some urgency into need to deploy heat pumps in Europe
As the European Union tries to free itself from Russian gas, it should offer subsidies and policy supports to boost heat-pump adoption, a new report says. Jeff St. John discusses in an article on the Canary Media website. How to move Europe from gas heat to heat pumps — fast Heat pumps play a major role in … Continue reading Putting some urgency into need to deploy heat pumps in Europe
Irish government defends plans to promote energy efficiency in response to spiralling cost of living pressures
In contrast to the measures announced by the UK government this week, the Irish prime minister (known as the Taoiseach) defended plans to promote energy efficiency and demand restraint including taking shorter showers and driving less, as part of an overall response to spiralling cost of living pressures. Mark Hilliard and Vivienne Clarke discuss latest … Continue reading Irish government defends plans to promote energy efficiency in response to spiralling cost of living pressures
Addressing how to achieve ‘net-zero’
A new report by Nick Eyre and Jan Rosenow reiterates that energy and carbon are different problems requiring different solutions. Lloyd Alter writes on the Treehugger website what their report means as we address ‘net-zero.’ Reinventing Energy Efficiency in a Net-Zero World For nigh on 50 years since the Arab oil embargo, energy security … Continue reading Addressing how to achieve ‘net-zero’
Five IPCC contributors give their views on the latest report published this week
The latest IPCC report has received considerable attention since being published April 4th, as it should. Thomas Wiedmann, Professor of Sustainability Research, UNSW Sydney; Arunima Malik, Senior Lecturer in Sustainability at the University of Sydney; Glen Peters, Research Director, Center for International Climate and Environment Research – Oslo; Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The … Continue reading Five IPCC contributors give their views on the latest report published this week
New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions
Accounting for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and sometimes up to 70% in large cities, buildings are central to the low-carbon transition. Decarbonising buildings, especially older stock, through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy use not only reduces carbon emissions, but also generates co-benefits in health, energy affordability and the labour market. … Continue reading New publication from OECD: Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions
European Green Deal: New proposals to make sustainable products the norm and boost Europe’s resource independence
This week the Commission presented a package of European Green Deal proposals to make sustainable products the norm in the EU, boost circular business models and empower consumers for the green transition. As announced in the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Commission is proposing new rules to make almost all physical goods on the EU market more friendly to the environment, circular, and … Continue reading European Green Deal: New proposals to make sustainable products the norm and boost Europe’s resource independence
New report commissioned by IISD: Phaseout Pathways for Fossil Fuel Production Within Paris-Compliant Carbon Budgets
There is a growing consensus that, to align with the Paris goals, coal must be phased out from power generation (its most significant use) by 2030 in developed countries and by 2040 or 2050 in developing countries. But what about oil and gas? The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) commissioned the Tyndall Centre at … Continue reading New report commissioned by IISD: Phaseout Pathways for Fossil Fuel Production Within Paris-Compliant Carbon Budgets
Germany’s challenges to keep on its energy transition pathway
Trevelyan Wing, Centre Researcher and PhD Candidate, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (CEENRG at the, University of Cambridge writes on The Conversation website about how the energy supply crisis and the war in Ukraine are causing difficulties for the German federal government to keep to its ambitious policy agenda. What are … Continue reading Germany’s challenges to keep on its energy transition pathway
