Needing leadership for our global climate and energy challenges

This week, Nick Butler, the Financial Times energy columnist and visiting professor and chair of the Kings Policy Institute at Kings College London, raised an important issue this week about the need for a world institution for climate and energy. Here are some of the important points he raises: It’s time to provide detailed steps … Continue reading Needing leadership for our global climate and energy challenges →

The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050

The summer of climate disasters in Australia has led to people seriously reflecting on how to address the situation. Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute, writes in The Guardian that there are 30 years to solve the hard problems, but no time to avoid the easy solutions. Putting the 'net' into net-zero … Continue reading The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050 →

Restoring Scotland’s peatland in drive to reduce GHG emissions could lead to problems for its Scotch whisky industry

While very little of the peat extracted annually is for whisky, the industry is caught up in the government’s efforts to restore Scotland’s peatlands. Charlie Parker explains latest developments in an article on The Times website. Green plans for saving peat are risky to whisky The Scottish whisky industry faces a critical shortage of … Continue reading Restoring Scotland’s peatland in drive to reduce GHG emissions could lead to problems for its Scotch whisky industry →

With a growing interest in railways, transport is well positioned for a big role in Europe’s climate plans

Sergio Matalucci writes on the Deutsche Welle website about the role that trains can and should play in the European Green Deal since transport is one of the key sectors that needs to decarbonise and rail offers so many benefits. Will trains play a key role in the European Green Deal? While governments debate … Continue reading With a growing interest in railways, transport is well positioned for a big role in Europe’s climate plans →

The worst-case scenario for emissions of CO2 this century is no longer plausible, say researchers

Matt McGrath writes on the BBC website about some of the concerns about the worst-case scenario for CO2 emissions. What are your views? Worst CO2 emissions scenario 'exceedingly unlikely' The worst-case scenario for emissions of CO2 this century is no longer plausible, say researchers. Referred to as "business as usual", the scenario assumes a … Continue reading The worst-case scenario for emissions of CO2 this century is no longer plausible, say researchers →

While many English councils state they will be carbon neutral by 2050, few even know their current carbon footprint

It is fairly easy to make a decarbonisation commitment, it is less easy to achieve it. Jane Dudman writes in The Guardian about the challenges ahead for English councils. English councils set to miss carbon emission targets Many councils in England don’t know how much energy they use, a new survey reveals. The findings … Continue reading While many English councils state they will be carbon neutral by 2050, few even know their current carbon footprint →

Financing Europe’s green transition

This was a critical week for ensuring the European Union takes a more ambitious approach to the low-carbon energy transition. The European Commission unveiled a €1 trillion investment plan to fight climate change on Tuesday. The Commission proposals would dedicate around a quarter of the EU budget to the task. The proposal has already had … Continue reading Financing Europe’s green transition →

Russia takes new approach to addressing climate change

A Kremlin website recognises global heating as a problem but lists ‘positive’ economic effects. A news item by Agence France-Presse in The Guardian explains some of the mitigation and adaptation efforts that are planned. Russia announces plan to ‘use the advantages’ of climate change Russia has published a plan to adapt its economy and … Continue reading Russia takes new approach to addressing climate change →

The Green Deal is the EU’s “new defining mission”

The European Union has already invested so much of its political capital into the green transition that a failure to fulfill its promise to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 would severely damage its legitimacy. The Green Deal is not just one of many EU projects. It is the Union’s new defining mission. Jean Pisani-Ferry, a … Continue reading The Green Deal is the EU’s “new defining mission” →

Calls in Hungary for climate and energy policy reform

Zsófia Végh writes on the Budapest Business Journal website climate and energy policy reforms are needed in Hungary. To start with, Hungarian energy strategy needs to be dealt with in the context of climate policy and economic development. There is also a need to accelerate decarbonisation. What are your views? Efficient Climate and Energy … Continue reading Calls in Hungary for climate and energy policy reform →