Germany’s energy transition increasingly seen to be key to the economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic

Freja Eriksen and Julian Wettengel write on the Clean Energy Wire about the importance given to the energy transition in Germany as a means to have the country recover from the serious economic impacts of the crisis.   German states and utilities say Energiewende central to economic recovery The energy transition must remain high on … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition increasingly seen to be key to the economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic

Low carbon energy transition making some progress in Europe

Austria and Sweden have each unplugged their last coal-fired power station from the grid. This is a major step forward in the low-carbon energy transition. Encouragingly, at least a dozen more European nations plan to abandon coal power by the end of the decade. Now let’s see if that can happen more quickly. Oliver Moody … Continue reading Low carbon energy transition making some progress in Europe

Story telling in the low-carbon energy transition

Derek Gladwin, Assistant Professor, Language & Literacy Education, and Sustainability Fellow at the University of British Columbia writes on The Conversation website that stories matter and those for the new energy transition will be different than those when fossil fuels dominated. Importantly he writes: “If we start to communicate and educate about energy transition through … Continue reading Story telling in the low-carbon energy transition

2020 is an iconic year and a tipping point for our low carbon energy transition

If we had to have a worldwide closedown, at least it is occurring during the tipping point year of 2020, argues Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation and a friend of EiD, in a column on the Business Green website.   Coronavirus Response: 2020 has become a watershed year in more ways … Continue reading 2020 is an iconic year and a tipping point for our low carbon energy transition

There is every reason to expect that the virus crisis will strengthen and accelerate the imperative to transition to a low-carbon world by mid-century

John Hewson, Professor and Chair, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University writes in an article on The Conversation website that the coronavirus crisis strengths the argument that we urgently need to make the low-carbon transition.   Sorry to disappoint climate deniers, but coronavirus makes the low-carbon … Continue reading There is every reason to expect that the virus crisis will strengthen and accelerate the imperative to transition to a low-carbon world by mid-century

Governments seeking to protect their citizens medically and economically in the short term should also look to the long term and protect the environment

Economists at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says efforts to counteract the Covid-19 pandemic create an opportunity to “tilt to green” the large-scale recovery spending being pledged, making it a key accelerator towards a low-carbon economy. Vanora Bennett explains in an article on the EBRD website.   Spending to counteract coronavirus creates … Continue reading Governments seeking to protect their citizens medically and economically in the short term should also look to the long term and protect the environment

IEA welcomes Luxembourg’s ambitions to shift to a low-carbon economy

In its latest in-depth review of Luxembourg’s energy policies, the IEA notes that Luxembourg faces challenges in achieving its energy objectives but welcomes their approach. These are described in an article by the Newsroom on the Modern Diplomacy website.   IEA support Luxembourg’s ambitious energy transition goals Luxembourg is targeting a sharp reduction in emissions … Continue reading IEA welcomes Luxembourg’s ambitions to shift to a low-carbon economy

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia scored poorly in terms of energy transition readiness

All countries need to review their policies to ensure they are on the right path for the low-carbon energy transition. Fadhila El Discha writes on the ASEAN Post website that Indonesia has much to do to reach the levels of readiness of their regional neighbours.   Indonesia needs a better clean energy policy While ASEAN … Continue reading In Southeast Asia, Indonesia scored poorly in terms of energy transition readiness

Needing leadership for our global climate and energy challenges

This week, Nick Butler, the Financial Times energy columnist and visiting professor and chair of the Kings Policy Institute at Kings College London, raised an important issue this week about the need for a world institution for climate and energy. Here are some of the important points he raises: It’s time to provide detailed steps … Continue reading Needing leadership for our global climate and energy challenges

The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050

The summer of climate disasters in Australia has led to people seriously reflecting on how to address the situation. Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute, writes in The Guardian that there are 30 years to solve the hard problems, but no time to avoid the easy solutions.   Putting the 'net' into net-zero … Continue reading The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050