Two new EEA reports on the need for action to improve adaptation nationally and locally

Despite the increasing awareness of climate change impacts and the need to adapt, many of Europe’s cities and towns are struggling to handle the impacts of heatwaves, severe droughts and destructive floods. Two European Environment Agency (EEA) reports published today stress the urgent need for action to improve adaptation and resilience at local and national … Continue reading Two new EEA reports on the need for action to improve adaptation nationally and locally →

Understanding the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)

We must reduce GHG emissions to net zero by 2050 to have a reasonable chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Human activities - mainly the burning of fossil fuels - are currently emitting far too much CO2 every year. One approach to reducing CO2 emissions is emissions trading – it is carrot-and-stick: emitters of … Continue reading Understanding the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) →

Irish government publishes new climate law which commits Ireland to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

Paul O’Donoghue writes on the Times website about a new climate action bill published by the Irish government. The bill is a positive step forward for the climate agenda, but also for Ireland. It will make Ireland a leader when it comes to climate action. Climate change bill ‘will improve poor emissions record’ The … Continue reading Irish government publishes new climate law which commits Ireland to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 →

Reviewing international plans to cut GHG emissions

Jeannette Cwienk writes on the Deutsche Welle website about plans announced to reduce GHG emissions and whether they are enough to meet our Paris climate targets. How successful are international climate efforts? China has joined the EU in presenting new plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions. But are they doing enough? And how about … Continue reading Reviewing international plans to cut GHG emissions →

Discussing the concerns about the EU’s net-zero emissions plans

The net-zero emissions plans in the EU have come under fire because they include not only emissions from fossil fuel burning and cement production, but also CO₂ removal by “carbon sinks” like forests or the soil. Wolfgang Knorr, Senior Research Scientist, Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science at Lund University reviews on The Conversation website what … Continue reading Discussing the concerns about the EU’s net-zero emissions plans →

The lowdown on Australia’s low-emissions roadmap

The recently released first low emissions technology statement by the government flags public investment in five areas: hydrogen, energy storage, low-carbon steel and aluminium, carbon capture and storage, and soil carbon storage. The roadmap is discussed in an article on The Conversation website by Llewelyn Hughes and Jorrit Gosens of Australian National University. ‘The … Continue reading The lowdown on Australia’s low-emissions roadmap →

UK government criticised for lack of women on team organising COP 26 in Glasgow next year

The UK Government has been fiercely criticised for its “implicit failure” to recognise women after it emerged an all-male team would be leading the COP 26 climate summit planned for Glasgow next year. Xander Richards explains in an article on The National website. Implicit failure': UK Government slammed for fielding all-male Cop26 team Initially … Continue reading UK government criticised for lack of women on team organising COP 26 in Glasgow next year →

The first assessment of EU National Energy and Climate Plans raise concerns about how targets will be met

A news item on the renews.biz website highlights the challenges the EU has in achieving long-term climate and energy targets. The article only discusses renewable energy but one can imagine the same would hold true for energy efficiency. One would think by now that member states would be giving a higher priority to the energy … Continue reading The first assessment of EU National Energy and Climate Plans raise concerns about how targets will be met →

Looking back at the 30 years of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

You probably know colleagues who are involved in the IPCC process that is currently underway. It is a daunting task involving a wide range of experts globally. Marc Hudson, Research Associate in Social Movements at Keele University gives us some background about how things have evolved over the 30 years the process has been underway … Continue reading Looking back at the 30 years of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change →

US risked severe economic harm by withdrawing from Paris climate agreement

Economists from the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at the London School of Economics examined the economic case for the US withdrawal and they found that climate breakdown would cause growing losses to US infrastructure and property and impede the rate of economic growth this century. Fiona Harvey explains in an article on The Guardian … Continue reading US risked severe economic harm by withdrawing from Paris climate agreement →