The leaked EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy proposal for a complementary Delegated Act sets out the role of fossil gas, two devastating scenarios emerge – both a far cry from net-zero by 2050. The leaked proposal is discussed in a briefing by Lina Strandvåg Nagell on the Bellona Europe website. Note that the EC began expert … Continue reading EU taxonomy proposed change is a “recipe for a greenwashing disaster”
Category: climate policy
The cost of abating the carbon impact of a proposed third runway at Heathrow has doubled since parliament approved the idea of expansion
While air travel has been subdued because of Covid-19, that does not mean that plans are not underway for expansion. In Britain, several years ago Parliament agreed to add a third runway to Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports. However, there is a requirement to offset the carbon emissions of the runway. Recent estimates … Continue reading The cost of abating the carbon impact of a proposed third runway at Heathrow has doubled since parliament approved the idea of expansion
Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has recently published two important reports. Mobilizing citizens to invest in energy efficiency One example of a way for citizens to contribute to the low-carbon energy transition is by investing in energy efficiency (EE). However, there are still multiple barriers that make the socially optimal level of adoption … Continue reading Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre
EU and its 27 Member States need to look how they can improve the current target of achieving an at least 55% reduction of net GHG emissions by 2030
The EU is not on track to achieve the 1.5°C climate target. Wendel Trio, in a Climate Science and Policy Briefing Paper, argues that the EU must revisit its current pledge. The author argues that o be aligned with the 1.5°C objective a GHG emission reduction target of at least -65% is needed. The … Continue reading EU and its 27 Member States need to look how they can improve the current target of achieving an at least 55% reduction of net GHG emissions by 2030
New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability
Most Europeans live in cities and cities are Europe’s economic, cultural, and political hubs. Cities face environmental and climate challenges but also hold keys to realise Europe’s sustainability ambitions. Two new assessments on urban sustainability, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today, combine several environment and climate themes, calling for better integration of policies … Continue reading New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability
China has a robust set of climate and energy policies and a strong track record when it comes to fulfilling its pledges to the international community: it just needs to do more
When it comes to climate change, no nation is more important than China. A common misconception is that China either lacks climate policies or fails to implement them. When it comes to China’s approach to climate change, the problem is not lack of policy implementation but rather a lack of policy ambition. Phillip Stalley, Endowed … Continue reading China has a robust set of climate and energy policies and a strong track record when it comes to fulfilling its pledges to the international community: it just needs to do more
New EEA report on EU’s progress of phasing down the use of F-gases
The supply and use of climate-warming fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) rose slightly across the European Union and United Kingdom in 2020, according to the latest annual update on the EU’s progress of phasing down the use of F-gases published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) this week. EU remains on track to phase-down use … Continue reading New EEA report on EU’s progress of phasing down the use of F-gases
Germany’s new coalition government has made bold climate policy the cornerstone of the alliance
A coal phaseout by 2030, more electric vehicles and rapid renewables expansion: Germany's new coalition has promised a climate bonanza. But can the ambitious targets be hit? Stuart Braun discusses in an article posted on the Deutsche Welle website. It would have been good to have read more on their plans to improve energy efficiency. … Continue reading Germany’s new coalition government has made bold climate policy the cornerstone of the alliance
Climate advisers warn UK is not doing enough to meet net-zero promises
The UK is on track to blow past emissions promises made ahead of COP26 in Glasgow unless tougher policies to cut carbon are introduced this decade, official climate advisers have warned. The CCC said the UK does not need to redraw its targets, but does need to come forward with plans to deliver on what … Continue reading Climate advisers warn UK is not doing enough to meet net-zero promises
While energy efficiency is the central pillar of France’s low carbon strategy, there is still need to accelerate its clean energy transition according to IEA
The International Energy Agency has published its review of energy policies of France. It is a comprehensive review that examines all aspects of energy policy. The last review of French energy policies was in 2015. France has helped guide international efforts to tackle climate change, but it needs to accelerate key parts of its energy … Continue reading While energy efficiency is the central pillar of France’s low carbon strategy, there is still need to accelerate its clean energy transition according to IEA
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 