Changing how we think about climate action just might change what we do

Daniel Steel from the University of British Columbia, C. Tyler DesRoches from Arizona State University and Kian Mintz-Woo from the University College Cork write on The Conversation website about the need to abandon viewing our climate actions as a sacrifice. Do you agree? Effective climate action requires us to abandon viewing our efforts as … Continue reading Changing how we think about climate action just might change what we do →

New EEA briefing on benefits of nature-based climate adaptation

Nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands in flood-prone areas or green infrastructure to reduce heat island effects in cities, need to be scaled up and expanded to help Europe better cope with the impacts of climate change. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, assesses the current state of such climate adaptation projects … Continue reading New EEA briefing on benefits of nature-based climate adaptation →

While Europe is battered by the climate crisis, governments must reassure voters that green costs will be fairly shared

In an article on the Guardian website, Francesco Grillo, visiting fellow at the European University Institute, Florence and director of the thinktank Vision asks a pertinent question: how can we put the climate crisis back at the top of the agenda, for politicians and the public alike? Climate fatigue isn’t a sign that Europeans … Continue reading While Europe is battered by the climate crisis, governments must reassure voters that green costs will be fairly shared →

“From a psychology point of view, motivating us to take action on climate is a wicked problem”

In an article on The Conversation website, Jeff Rotman. Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Consumer Psychology & Co-Director of the Better Consumption Lab at Deakin University in Australia discusses our behaviour from a psychological point of view. Misinformation and doubt are particularly damaging to climate action. They let us feel OK about inaction. He concludes: … Continue reading “From a psychology point of view, motivating us to take action on climate is a wicked problem” →

Energy in Demand News, November 5th, 2023

The negotiations taking place before a climate conference are always complicated. This is proving true this year as well. The Financial Times reports (behind a paywall) that western countries have clashed with Saudi Arabia over the role it should play to “kick-start a UN fund to help poorer countries deal with the loss and damage … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 5th, 2023 →

New research assesses the size and uncertainty of remaining carbon budgets

Chris Smith, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science at the University of Leeds and Robin Lamboll, Research Fellow in Atmospheric Science at Imperial College London write on The Conversation website about new research they are involved in that effectively gives the world just six years to get to net zero. Will anyone listen? Carbon … Continue reading New research assesses the size and uncertainty of remaining carbon budgets →

Economists underestimate climate risk, says Finance Watch

In a new report, the NGO judges that by underestimating the financial repercussions of climate change, economists are encouraging politicians to inaction. Climate risk is growing to disruptive levels throughout the financial system and the guardians of financial stability urgently need to adapt their tools to regain control. Finance Watch’s new report published on its … Continue reading Economists underestimate climate risk, says Finance Watch →

New EEA briefing on the assessment of EU national adaptation actions

Climate risk assessments that take account of threats like heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires are increasingly being used to inform and improve national adaptation policies according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment of national adaptation actions published recently. Heatwaves, droughts, other extreme weather events increasingly influencing adaptation policies The EEA briefing ‘Is … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the assessment of EU national adaptation actions →

Over 200 health journals call on the United Nations, political leaders, and health professionals to recognise that climate change and biodiversity loss are one indivisible crisis and must be tackled together

Co-ordinated editorial calls on World Health Organization to declare global health emergency. Lauren Pelley discusses the call to leaders in an article on the CBC News website. Climate crisis could cause 'catastrophic harm' to human health, 200-plus medical journals warn More than 200 medical journals are calling on the World Health Organization to deem … Continue reading Over 200 health journals call on the United Nations, political leaders, and health professionals to recognise that climate change and biodiversity loss are one indivisible crisis and must be tackled together →

Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023

We are now about two months away from COP28 in Dubai. All of us are anxious that real progress is made because the signs of climate crisis are growing and there definitely is a need to ramp up ambition and action. We were discouraged this week when EU member states this week adopted a common … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023 →