Fernando Valladares from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Spain, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses a study that found that rich people leave a disproportionately large carbon footprint, and that the share of global emissions for which they are responsible is increasing and there is a need to tax the … Continue reading Excessive personal consumption needs to be addressed in our climate strategies
Category: consumers
New survey shows that the more a climate change measure would change lifestyle, the less it is supported
A recent YouGov survey in seven European countries tested backing for government and individual action on crisis. Jon Henley discusses the results in an article on the Guardian website. Many Europeans want climate action – but less so if it changes their lifestyle, shows poll Many Europeans are alarmed by the climate crisis and … Continue reading New survey shows that the more a climate change measure would change lifestyle, the less it is supported
One British radio programme highlights issues we face in our energy transition
The Archers is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word channel. Broadcast since 1951. It was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now promoted as "a contemporary drama in a rural setting." Ed Atkins and Ros Death from the University of Bristol … Continue reading One British radio programme highlights issues we face in our energy transition
“The highly profitable and fast-growing bottled water industry is masking the failure of public systems to supply reliable drinking water for all”
As the bottled water market grows, it is more important than ever to strengthen legislation that regulates the industry and its water quality standards. Such legislation can impact bottled water quality control, groundwater exploitation, land use, plastic waste management, carbon emissions, finance and transparency obligations, to mention a few. Zeineb Bouhlel and Vladimir Smakhtin from … Continue reading “The highly profitable and fast-growing bottled water industry is masking the failure of public systems to supply reliable drinking water for all”
Is “de-growth” the way forward to address climate change?
Timothée Parrique, Researcher in Ecological Economics at Lund University writes on The Conversation website about a new report by Kohei Saito arguing that “degrowth communism” could halt the escalating climate emergency. EiD looks forward to the comments of readers. Economic growth is fuelling climate change – a new book proposes ‘degrowth communism’ as the … Continue reading Is “de-growth” the way forward to address climate change?
New EEA briefing on how to handle discarded textiles in Europe
Discarded textiles in Europe, including used clothing and footwear, are an increasing waste and export problem. Rapidly increasing EU exports of used textiles — some of which is reused and some of which ends up in landfills — show that Europe faces a challenge in how to handle its own used textiles, according to a … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how to handle discarded textiles in Europe
Britain’s winter fuel support failing to tack high levels of fuel poverty
The billions paid out to pensioner households each winter in Britain are failing to tackle rising levels of fuel poverty, writes Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, on the BUSINESS GREEN website. This is an important message for all countries addressing fuel poverty. More quantitative easing than fuel poverty alleviation: The … Continue reading Britain’s winter fuel support failing to tack high levels of fuel poverty
New EEA assessment on secondary raw material markets in Europe
Europe’s ambitions for a circular economy require the timely provision of good-quality recycled raw materials to manufacturers. However, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published this week, from the eight most common recyclables, only aluminium, paper and glass have well-functioning secondary markets. Lack of standardisation and competition with new materials are among the … Continue reading New EEA assessment on secondary raw material markets in Europe
Wood burning in homes produces more small particle pollution than all road traffic in the UK
Wood burning has increased in popularity over recent years, yet it remains a major source of air pollution. Damian Carrington has written several articles in The Guardian on the subject but this piece from February highlights the issues. EiD notes that in our neighbourhood of Paris (including several in our building), many are still having … Continue reading Wood burning in homes produces more small particle pollution than all road traffic in the UK
Understanding the carbon footprint of coffee consumption
Luciano Rodrigues Viana, Charles Marty, Jean-François Boucher and Pierre-Luc Dessureault, all of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) write on The Conversation website about better understanding the carbon footprint of coffee. They decided to study the carbon footprint of several techniques used to prepare coffee at home, and it turns out that coffee capsules … Continue reading Understanding the carbon footprint of coffee consumption
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 