The Financial Times reported an escalation of scientists’ fears of a breach of the 1.5C warming level set down in the Paris accord, after the latest data showing the monthly average global temperature had topped the threshold for 21 out of the past 22 months. The global average temperature over the 12-month period to the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, May 11-12, 2025
Category: emissions standards
US EPA plans to shut down the Energy Star Program
Employees at the Environmental Protection Agency were told that the popular energy efficiency certification program would be “de-prioritized and eliminated,” according to documents and a recording. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) issued the following statement from its executive director, Steven Nadel: “If you wanted to raise families’ energy bills, getting rid of … Continue reading US EPA plans to shut down the Energy Star Program
Revisiting the benefits of appliance efficiency standards
David J. Vogel, Professor Emeritus of Business Ethics and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley explains why energy efficiency standards for appliances are important in an article on The Conversation website. Interestingly, the first appliance standards were issued over 50 years ago in California and yet, with all the benefits that have been derived from … Continue reading Revisiting the benefits of appliance efficiency standards
The International Maritime Organisation agreed to the sector’s first binding targets to reduce GHG emissions from ships
The shipping sector is now the first industry with internationally mandated targets to reduce emissions. This outcome is the result of constructive discussions among IMO member states since the adoption of the IMO’s 2023 greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy. Ship owners who fail to reduce emissions intensity 30% by 2035 will have to pay into a … Continue reading The International Maritime Organisation agreed to the sector’s first binding targets to reduce GHG emissions from ships
Latest EEA air quality data analysis shows that, while steady improvements, air pollution remains Europe’s largest environmental health risk
Air quality is steadily improving across Europe with most air pollution monitoring stations achieving current EU annual limits for some of the most harmful air pollutants. However, additional measures to improve air quality, especially in cities, will be required to fully meet current EU standards as well as recently agreed future air quality standards by … Continue reading Latest EEA air quality data analysis shows that, while steady improvements, air pollution remains Europe’s largest environmental health risk
European carmakers fined for anti-recycling cartel
In an article on the Euronews website, Robert Hodgson discusses the fines given to European carmakers because of their clandestine agreement not to compete on grounds of environmental friendliness on the basis of their support for recycling. EU fines carmakers €458 million for anti-recycling cartel Ten years after the Dieselgate scandal over cheating in … Continue reading European carmakers fined for anti-recycling cartel
New US government destroying electricity efficiency standards
President Trump has wasted no time in his second term to unravel appliance efficiency standards and take up the cause of the fossil fuel industry. In a column on the Energy in the February issue of Buildings & Industry magazine, Andrew Warren, Chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, highlights some of Trump’s latest efforts … Continue reading New US government destroying electricity efficiency standards
How do Australia’s vehicle emissions policies compare to those in Europe?
In an article on The Conversation website, Robin Smit, Adjunct Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney compares the approaches taken in Europe to those being adopted in Australia. Australians’ cars are typically larger, heavier and less efficient than in Europe – here’s why Road transport is responsible for a … Continue reading How do Australia’s vehicle emissions policies compare to those in Europe?
Global standards play key role in addressing climate change
In an article on The Conversation website, Graeme Auld, Professor, Public Policy, Carleton University and Stefan Renckens, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto discuss the important role that standards play overall but particularly, in this case, related to climate change. What are your views? How a small update in global standards can … Continue reading Global standards play key role in addressing climate change
Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024
This week the European Commission will propose the new level of ambition for GHG emissions reductions it considers necessary for 2040. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) notes that the EU’s climate chief, Wopke Hoekstra, “has warned the bloc must not be lured into a “false narrative” that action against global warming is undermining the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 