A carbon reduction incentive could neutralise the current opposition to carbon taxes while reducing carbon-intensive activities in a much more targeted and fair way

The accomplishments of carbon taxes over the last decade have been underwhelming. What if, instead of making fuel and other commodities and services more expensive, we used a financial incentive to make technologies that help reduce emissions – such as solar, wind and geothermal energy – more affordable? Sumedha Basu, PhD Candidate in Sustainability at … Continue reading A carbon reduction incentive could neutralise the current opposition to carbon taxes while reducing carbon-intensive activities in a much more targeted and fair way →

As the world confronts a changing climate, India is a crucial unknown, and its decisions could either doom efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions — or jump-start them

Joanna Slater writes on the Washington Post website about the crucial role India plays in our global low-carbon future. What do you think? Can India chart a low-carbon future? The world might depend on it. Dusk was falling as Sadanand Jha drove his electric three-wheeler through the streets of this north Indian city, passing … Continue reading As the world confronts a changing climate, India is a crucial unknown, and its decisions could either doom efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions — or jump-start them →

French citizens of the citizens’ convention for the climate propose a new model to “profoundly change society” in order to respond to the climate crisis

150 volunteers participated in the Citizens’ Convention on the Climate in France. They must now debate and vote on each of their proposals, which include amending the Constitution and the allowing use of referendums, as well as deciding on how to fund their measures. Audrey Garric and Rémi Barroux explain latest developments in an article … Continue reading French citizens of the citizens’ convention for the climate propose a new model to “profoundly change society” in order to respond to the climate crisis →

“This crisis offers us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild our economy in order to withstand the next shock coming our way: climate breakdown”

As current and former central bankers, Andrew Bailey, Mark Carney, François Villeroy de Galhau, Frank Elderson believe the pandemic offers a unique chance to green the global economy. They provided this opinion piece on The Guardian website. The world must seize this opportunity to meet the climate challenge We are currently in the midst … Continue reading “This crisis offers us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild our economy in order to withstand the next shock coming our way: climate breakdown” →

Japanese government urged to reconsider its ”disappointing” proposals to cut GHG emissions and adopt a more “ambitious” stance

Samuel Lovett writes on The Independent website about the lack of ambition in Japan’s latest targets that remain unchanged from first commitments made five years ago under Paris Agreement. Japan’s latest climate change plans criticised as ‘feeble’ and ‘shameful’ Japan’s new proposals for fighting climate change have been described as “feeble” and “shameful”, after … Continue reading Japanese government urged to reconsider its ”disappointing” proposals to cut GHG emissions and adopt a more “ambitious” stance →

New EEA briefing on need for EU member states to accelerate actions to reach GHG effort sharing targets

Emission cuts in the European Union’s (EU) Effort Sharing sectors need to accelerate considerably from 2018 onwards to achieve the current EU 2030 targets, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week. In particular, the large amount of emission reductions from planned measures in the transport sector need to materialise through concrete … Continue reading New EEA briefing on need for EU member states to accelerate actions to reach GHG effort sharing targets →

Ireland not on track to meet its long-term decarbonisation goals

Fossil fuel use in sectors a threat to Ireland’s long-term green energy goals. Kevin O’Sullivan discusses Ireland’s energy transition situation in an article on the Irish Times website. Transport and heat emissions holding back progress on decarbonising Significant progress in decarbonising power generation in Ireland is being undermined by increases in carbon emissions from … Continue reading Ireland not on track to meet its long-term decarbonisation goals →

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 →