The EU and Australia have important similarities when it comes to the energy sector, such as a vast grid that crosses jurisdictions and shared governance arrangements. A new report shows what the EU and Australia can learn from each other as they address fuel poverty. Sangeetha Chandrashekeran, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Research Council Centre of … Continue reading Fuel poverty: new report compares approaches to energy affordability in the EU and Australia
Category: consumers
The appalling neglect of fuel poverty in England is now being starkly revealed
Fuel poverty had slipped down the political agenda for many years. With one in six households now having to face the choice of eating or heating it is now back with a vengeance. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, a long-time follower of policies and programmes related to fuel poverty, discusses latest … Continue reading The appalling neglect of fuel poverty in England is now being starkly revealed
Low-tech sustainable solutions prioritise simplicity and durability, local manufacture, as well as traditional or ancient techniques
Chris McMahon, Senior Research Fellow in Engineering at the University of Bristol explains the benefits of low-technology in our path to sustainability without the need to always look towards high-tech solutions in an article on The Conversation website. Low-technology: why sustainability doesn’t have to depend on high-tech solutions It’s a popular idea that the path … Continue reading Low-tech sustainable solutions prioritise simplicity and durability, local manufacture, as well as traditional or ancient techniques
How much does anything we do for the climate actually matter?
Can new year's resolutions to go vegan and fly less help stop climate change — or are individual lifestyle changes a distraction from real solutions? Ajit Niranjan tries to give us some answers in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. What are your views? Should I feel guilty about my carbon footprint? Turn … Continue reading How much does anything we do for the climate actually matter?
Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has recently published two important reports. Mobilizing citizens to invest in energy efficiency One example of a way for citizens to contribute to the low-carbon energy transition is by investing in energy efficiency (EE). However, there are still multiple barriers that make the socially optimal level of adoption … Continue reading Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre
In Sweden, a movement advocating avoiding flying has gained influence since 2016 and has started to change the way travel is portrayed in the Swedish media
Recent research shows that there are shifting ideas and assumptions about holidays by plane in Swedish society. While flying is still widely presented as desirable, changes in some media coverage show the influence of the flight-free movement and illustrate that different perspectives of what constitutes a good life under climate change are gaining some influence. … Continue reading In Sweden, a movement advocating avoiding flying has gained influence since 2016 and has started to change the way travel is portrayed in the Swedish media
What’s clear is the current system of shipping heavy, throwaway wine bottles around the globe is unsustainable
Glass bottles are the largest source of the wine industry’s carbon footprint. Several companies are experimenting with new shipping methods. Eric Asimov writes on the New York Times website about recent developments. The Message in a Reusable Wine Bottle: Combat Climate Change Last month, a 24,000-liter hermetically sealed plastic container, or flexitank, carrying organically … Continue reading What’s clear is the current system of shipping heavy, throwaway wine bottles around the globe is unsustainable
Germany benefits from citizen assembly on environmental ambitions
Inspired by citizens’ assemblies in Ireland and France, Germany is doing the same. One hundred and sixty Germans, four major issues, one goal: for lawmakers to live up to their climate pledges. The Citizen Assembly is set to debate Germany's environmental ambitions and make sure its voices are heard. Martin Kuebler discusses recent developments in … Continue reading Germany benefits from citizen assembly on environmental ambitions
Public transit is hanging by a thread in many cities around the world and that’s a disaster for the world’s ability to address that other global crisis: climate change
Public transit offers a simple way for cities to lower GHG emissions, but the pandemic has pushed ridership, and revenue, off a cliff in many big systems. Somini Sengupta, Geneva Abdul, Manuela Andreoni and Veronica Penney discuss latest developments in an article on the New York Times website. Riders Are Abandoning Buses and Trains. … Continue reading Public transit is hanging by a thread in many cities around the world and that’s a disaster for the world’s ability to address that other global crisis: climate change
Strong consumer protections are necessary in Scotland as energy efficiency measures for homes become more complex
A news item on the Scottish Housing News website explains the steps that are taken to protect consumers as renovations become more ambitious. What is the situation in your country? Citizens Advice Scotland outlines plans to protect consumers in move to net-zero There remains a significant risk consumers who invest in energy efficiency measures … Continue reading Strong consumer protections are necessary in Scotland as energy efficiency measures for homes become more complex
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 