Climate change target needs to be politically credible

When do we need to reach net zero emissions? Aled Jones, Professor & Director, Global Sustainability Institute, at Anglia Ruskin University discusses the politics involved in an article on The Conversation website. While the example is the UK, it affects all of us. Net zero emissions by 2050 or 2025? Depends how you think … Continue reading Climate change target needs to be politically credible →

Ireland becomes second country to declare climate emergency

As Greta Thunberg said, having heard of Ireland’s decision, “Who is next?” Michelle Devane writes in the Irish Independent to discuss the decision made May 9th. For background, the International Energy Agency recently reviewed Irish energy Policies. In its review it is stated: “Ireland is not on track to meet its climate target of a … Continue reading Ireland becomes second country to declare climate emergency →

Ireland falls short in its level of ambition for the low-carbon energy transition

EU member states have submitted their draft national energy and climate plans and the one from Ireland gets bad marks in an assessment made by the Climate Action Network. The report concludes Ireland’s plan “does not demonstrate high ambition on energy savings and renewable energy, indicating a lack of focus in their actions for the … Continue reading Ireland falls short in its level of ambition for the low-carbon energy transition →

New report on China’s climate and energy policies

The fourth edition of the report “Mapping China’s Climate & Energy Policies” describes, maps and analyzes China’s national-level Party, government agencies, academic and research institutions, and state-affiliated enterprise climate actors in China on a policy by policy basis. The report is supported by the British Embassy in Beijing, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of … Continue reading New report on China’s climate and energy policies →

Collaboration needed to set climate change policies in Canada, not the courts

Only two years ago there was relatively good consensus on the way forward for climate change policy in Canada. Since then there has been increased “resistance”. Nathalie Chalifour and Jason MacLean provide a good article on the Policy Options website about the situation in the country. As we often hear, no one said the low-carbon … Continue reading Collaboration needed to set climate change policies in Canada, not the courts →

Reducing emissions in Scotland – 2018 Progress Report to Parliament from the Committee on Climate Change

This is the Climate Change Committee’s seventh report on Scotland’s progress towards meetings emissions targets, as requested by Scottish Ministers under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Overall, Scotland continues to outperform the rest of the UK in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, but successful strategies for energy and waste mask a lack of progress … Continue reading Reducing emissions in Scotland – 2018 Progress Report to Parliament from the Committee on Climate Change →

Novel approach to store carbon

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has not been too successful to date for all its promises. Many are sceptical it will ever be a viable approach. Marianne Holmer, Professor of Biology and the University of Southern Denmark discusses in an article on The Conversation website about using seagrass in storage. This is definitely the first … Continue reading Novel approach to store carbon →

Britain’s genuinely ambitious project to significantly improve the energy performance of its building stock as an important element of its strategy to meet its Paris climate obligations

It is widely recognised in Europe and throughout the world that a key aspect of meeting our Paris climate obligations is by improving the energy performance of our existing buildings. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation and a regular contributor to EiD, has written in the July/August issue of Energy in Buildings … Continue reading Britain’s genuinely ambitious project to significantly improve the energy performance of its building stock as an important element of its strategy to meet its Paris climate obligations →

New report shows that China is global leader in climate policy but still needs to do more in mitigation

It is difficult for us to appreciate the size of China. Obviously, it is a key country in our efforts towards a low-carbon energy transition. Edward Wong writes in the New York Times about a new report that shows China being a global leader in climate policy but warns there is still so much more … Continue reading New report shows that China is global leader in climate policy but still needs to do more in mitigation →

Growing number of Republicans in US calling for greater action to address climate change

Brad Plumer writes in the New York Times about what he calls a “growing chorus of Senate Republicans, conservative taxpayer groups and corporate executives” urging President Trump to make a greater effort to address climate change. Why Republicans are backing an Obama-era climate policy This is not something you see every day: Over the past … Continue reading Growing number of Republicans in US calling for greater action to address climate change →