EU 2040 target holds line on climate, but loopholes threaten integrity

The European Commission announced it would stick to the objective announced last year of cutting emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The Commission proposed that states could count carbon credits purchased to finance projects outside Europe for up to 3% of their emission cuts. An article on the Le Monde discusses the … Continue reading EU 2040 target holds line on climate, but loopholes threaten integrity →

New EEA report on Europe’s land carbon sinks

Europe’s forests and land are absorbing less carbon than expected, putting the 2030 target for the sector at risk. But with the right policies and measures, the land use and forestry sector could still play a crucial role in climate mitigation, with significant co-benefits for people and nature, according to a new European Environment Agency … Continue reading New EEA report on Europe’s land carbon sinks →

Energy in Demand News, June 29, 2025

The Washington Post reports on a new study from the nonprofit International Council on Clean Transportation, shedding light on which nations are driving the largest share of this planet-warming pollution — and which airports stand out. Globally, private jets emitted up to 19.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2023. Aircraft departing from the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 29, 2025 →

New EEA report on renewable electricity in Europe’s energy transition

Scaling up renewable electricity sources across the EU could reduce electricity generation costs, improve energy independence, and support the transition towards clean industry, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published this week. At the same time, accelerating the electrification of heating, transport and industry is needed to support Europe’s clean and competitive future. … Continue reading New EEA report on renewable electricity in Europe’s energy transition →

Britain’s energy transition: while the government’s priority is energy savings for larger businesses, SMEs typically pay the highest rates for their energy

Sam Hampton, Researcher, Environmental Geography, University of Oxford and Jan Rosenow, Leader of the Energy Programme, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, University of Oxford, write on The Conversation website about plans to cut energy bills for large industry but SMEs are getting no relief. One worries that this could seriously affect the overall economy. … Continue reading Britain’s energy transition: while the government’s priority is energy savings for larger businesses, SMEs typically pay the highest rates for their energy →

The EU accelerates the completion of the energy union

On its website, the European Commission published this week a news article on how it is completing the energy union. In focus: Completing Europe’s energy union In 2015, the EU’s energy union strategy set out a bold vision to fundamentally transform our energy system. It envisioned a resilient energy union, with an ambitious climate policy, to … Continue reading The EU accelerates the completion of the energy union →

Energy in Demand News, June 8-9, 2025

Global energy investment is set to increase in 2025 to a record $3.3 trillion despite headwinds from elevated geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, a new IEA report says. Clean energy technologies will attract twice as much capital as fossil fuels. Investment in clean technologies – renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification – is on … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 8-9, 2025 →

Vast majority of new homes in England must have solar panels

Ministers in the UK are poised to confirm that the “vast majority” of new build homes in England will need to have solar panels on their roofs, claiming the policy will cut household energy bills. Leila Nathoo and Christina McSorley discuss latest developments in an article on the BBC News website. Most new build … Continue reading Vast majority of new homes in England must have solar panels →

Call for an ‘energy savings first’ principle in Europe

Rather than an ‘energy efficiency first principle’ in Europe, Christoph Schwaiger discusses in an article on the Euractiv website that the French think-tank, négaWatt, is arguing for a new principle would be beneficial, focusing on not just how we use energy, but on how much energy we truly need. This comes closer to the sufficiency … Continue reading Call for an ‘energy savings first’ principle in Europe →

Energy in Demand News, May 18-19, 2025

In an article about the paradox of climate adaptation spending, a Financial Times newsletter says that many global companies recognise the seriousness of climate-related risks to their business, with 66% of the EU businesses polled confirming that they face threats from the physical impacts of climate change. But, according to the survey last year by … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, May 18-19, 2025 →