Can carbon be offset with integrity?

There will be endless discussions on the role of achieving net zero emission, what role do carbon offsets really have and is so much of this simply greenwashing. Christian Barry and Garrett Cullity of Australian National University provide their views in an article on The Conversation website.   Big-business greenwash or a climate saviour? Carbon … Continue reading Can carbon be offset with integrity?

Blog from Peter Sweatman: And how much of the $100 trillion is earmarked for energy efficiency, Mark?

On November 3rd, during the first week of COP26, Mark Carney, the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, announced that 450 financial organisations from 45 countries pledged to deliver the estimated $100 trillion of finance needed for net zero over the next three decades. This is the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero … Continue reading Blog from Peter Sweatman: And how much of the $100 trillion is earmarked for energy efficiency, Mark?

Not taking embodied emissions in buildings into account could mean overshooting carbon emissions targets by several decades

Ljubomir Jankovic, Professor of Advanced Building Design at the University of Hertfordshire, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses the importance of accounting for embodied carbon in buildings if we are to fully come to grips with net zero emissions.   Embodied carbon: why truly net zero buildings could still be decades away Carbon dioxide … Continue reading Not taking embodied emissions in buildings into account could mean overshooting carbon emissions targets by several decades

Coming soon . . . not to miss

eceee summer study 2022 – deadline November 16th for submission of abstracts As we all find our role in the carbon-neutral energy transition, you can be an agent of change at eceee’s upcoming summer study, in Hyères, the South of France, 6–11 June 2022.  The eceee 2022 Summer Study offers five intense days of formal … Continue reading Coming soon . . . not to miss

Often overlooked as an obstacle to climate action, lobbying has come into the spotlight at COP26

Lobbyists are pushing the climate to dangerous extremes by blocking or diluting policies that would reduce the burning of fossil fuels. Ajit Niranjan provides his views on lobbying in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   COP26: Lobbying threat to global climate action As world leaders meet for a landmark summit to cut carbon … Continue reading Often overlooked as an obstacle to climate action, lobbying has come into the spotlight at COP26

How climate change affects Inuit and other Indigenous communities, and why greater inclusion of Indigenous voices is vital in aiding the climate crisis

Having attended many climate conferences in the past where there were many side-events by indigenous communities explaining how climate change was drastically affecting their societies and livelihoods, it brings home how vulnerable so many people are. In many cases, adaptation is not even an option. Cloe Logan interviews Ashley Cummings, a 23-year-old Inuk activist from … Continue reading How climate change affects Inuit and other Indigenous communities, and why greater inclusion of Indigenous voices is vital in aiding the climate crisis

The new heat and buildings strategy boosts the UK’s credentials as a global leader yet it has ignored some critical actions

With much fanfare, the UK government announced its heat and buildings strategy last week. Ran Boydell, Visiting Lecturer in Sustainable Development at Heriot-Watt University discusses the strategy to see if it is fit for purpose to help Britain achieve its net-zero objectives in an article on The Conversation website.   Heat and buildings strategy: the … Continue reading The new heat and buildings strategy boosts the UK’s credentials as a global leader yet it has ignored some critical actions

Strong message to give priority to reducing energy consumption

Martin Rossen, former Chief of staff at the Danish Prime Minister’s Office and now Senior Vice President, Head of Global Communication and Sustainability at Danfoss A/S provides a strong argument on the Politics.co.uk website that decision makers somehow forgot that the greenest energy is the energy we don’t use. He argues that energy efficiency is … Continue reading Strong message to give priority to reducing energy consumption

New joint briefing by EEA and Eurofound on benefits of targeted measures to cut carbon emissions

Recycling revenues from energy and carbon taxes to support low-income groups, investing in renovating buildings and in green mobility are among measures that could ensure public support for Europe’s sustainability agenda and a socially just transition. Vulnerable groups may feel the benefit of these measures more than others, as well as from the broader community … Continue reading New joint briefing by EEA and Eurofound on benefits of targeted measures to cut carbon emissions

The European Commission is handing out 60,000 Interrail tickets to young people

From Tuesday this week, 18- to 20-year-olds have been able to apply for tickets that grant free train travel across Europe. The initiative is providing travel opportunities to young people as the pandemic wanes. A news item on the Deutsche Welle website explains. The closing date is October 26th, so if you know someone who … Continue reading The European Commission is handing out 60,000 Interrail tickets to young people