Energy in Demand News, August 11, 2024

This week Lord Adair Turner, the former chairman of the UK’s Climate Change Committee and the current chair of the Energy Transitions Commission, was interviewed in the Financial Times (behind a paywall). There are two particularly important quotes from him. The first concerns what it will cost to get to net zero: “In 2020, the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 11, 2024 →

The crucial role of data in decarbonising our buildings

Lisa Cairns, from IRT Surveys, discusses how data and technology can help housing providers make smarter retrofit decisions in an article on the Housing Digital_ website. Decarbonisation: The value of using data and technology While the new Labour government’s commitment to improving energy efficiency in UK homes is warmly welcomed, retrofitting the existing property … Continue reading The crucial role of data in decarbonising our buildings →

Energy in Demand News, August 4, 2024

You may remember that in March 2023, the final instalment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) was published. This eight-year long undertaking from the world’s most authoritative scientific body on climate change detailed the devastating consequences of rising GHG emissions around the world — the destruction of homes, the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 4, 2024 →

New OECD report on which SMEs are greening

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) could play a pivotal role in the pursuit of climate objectives. SMEs have a significant carbon footprint on aggregate, but they can also contribute to reaching net zero through their innovations and commitment to the use of environmentally friendly practices. This study develops a novel metric to identify environmental engagement, … Continue reading New OECD report on which SMEs are greening →

This latest global call to action on extreme heat emphasises four critical areas of response

In an article on The Conversation website, Rachel Kyte, Professor of Practice in Climate Policy, University of Oxford and former CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, discusses how extreme heat can be tackled. What are your views? How a global pact could tackle extreme heat The UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has made an … Continue reading This latest global call to action on extreme heat emphasises four critical areas of response →

Fashion brands are failing to act on decarbonisation

Almost a quarter of the world’s biggest fashion brands, such as Reebok, Tom Ford and DKNY, do not have a public plan for decarbonisation, a report has found. In its latest transparency ranking, Fashion Revolution calls out the lack of progress towards fashion’s climate goals. The critical path to decarbonisation — and a just transition … Continue reading Fashion brands are failing to act on decarbonisation →

Energy in Demand News, July 28, 2024

A task force convened by the UN secretary-general has criticised the use of carbon credits to offset emissions outside of state-regulated schemes. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) reports that the task force’s draft report opposes companies using credits “to cancel out their carbon dioxide footprint, putting it on a collision course with big oil … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 28, 2024 →

Britain’s energy transition: great expectations from carbon capture technology

Labour’s green pledge hinges on technology that is proving less transformative than hoped. A recent report raises concerns about its underperformance. In an article on the Telegraph website, Jonathan Leake discusses the main issues the new government is facing. Are we seeing the same concerns in other countries? How the failure of carbon capture … Continue reading Britain’s energy transition: great expectations from carbon capture technology →

China is on the verge of bending its emissions curve from years of steep growth into a flat plateau

In an article on the New York Times website, Max Bearak discusses important developments in China. Analysts are seeing promising signs from the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. We can only hope this comes true. Why the Era of China’s Soaring Carbon Emissions Might Be Ending China, the world’s biggest source of planet-warming … Continue reading China is on the verge of bending its emissions curve from years of steep growth into a flat plateau →

Blueprints for a low energy economy

Is the new UK government prepared to rise to the challenge of investing in energy efficiency measures and reducing the country’s energy use? asks Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation in an article in the July/August issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. In recognition of the new Government's determination to deliver … Continue reading Blueprints for a low energy economy →