While there are many positive signs that North America is taking climate change more seriously, there still is significant scepticism that needs to be overcome. Sarah Sharma, PhD Candidate, International Relations at Queen's University, Ontario and Matthew Hoffmann, Professor of Political Science and Co-Director Environmental Governance Lab, University of Toronto discuss what steps should be … Continue reading Four guiding principles can help build the political support needed to meet North America’s new-found climate ambition
Category: energy transition
Draft decision in Australia for households and small business with solar panels pay to inject their surplus production into the grid raises concerns
Australian households with rooftop solar panels could be charged for exporting electricity into the power grid at times when it is not needed under proposed changes to the national electricity market. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre at Victoria University writes on The Conversation website that this could prove to be a big mistake … Continue reading Draft decision in Australia for households and small business with solar panels pay to inject their surplus production into the grid raises concerns
35 million time bomb: what’s up with the EU Renovation Wave?
I feel like a broken record. Every time I’m with a group related to energy and climate, the discussion obviously gets to meeting our long-term objectives. That is quite understandable. But while we discuss where we want to go in general terms we are much more uncomfortable talking about how to get there. For example, … Continue reading 35 million time bomb: what’s up with the EU Renovation Wave?
We need to be clear what role nuclear and hydrogen can play in our transition to being carbon neutral
Jonathon Porritt, the environmentalist and founder-director of Forum for the Future provides his comments on our energy transition in an article on the Guardian website. Big industry players pushing techno-fixes are ignoring the only realistic solution to the climate crisis: renewables. Don't believe hydrogen and nuclear hype – they can’t get us to net … Continue reading We need to be clear what role nuclear and hydrogen can play in our transition to being carbon neutral
Media corner – upcoming podcasts on access to energy as a basic human right
Next week the ‘ENGAGER Energy Rights Forum: Would a Right to Energy end Energy Poverty?’ will take place between the 15th and 19th of March 2021, entirely online. While registration is now closed, there is still much to learn and there will be more podcasts produced after the event. European Energy Poverty: Agenda Co-Creation and … Continue reading Media corner – upcoming podcasts on access to energy as a basic human right
Green hydrogen – nobody seems to want to talk about water
Irina Slav writes on the Oilprice website about the water needed to produce green hydrogen. What are your views? The Green Hydrogen Problem That No One Is Talking About Gigawatt upon gigawatt of green hydrogen capacity is being planned across Europe, Asia, and Australia. According to proponents of the technology, green hydrogen - the … Continue reading Green hydrogen – nobody seems to want to talk about water
Understanding carbon-free construction
Buildings and construction generate nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. As urbanisation skyrockets, the sector needs to find ways to rapidly decarbonise through net-zero building as required under the EU Energy Performance In Buildings Directive and to meet our long-term climate and energy objectives. Stuart Braun provides a good account to understanding carbon-free construction in … Continue reading Understanding carbon-free construction
Green hydrogen seen as way forward for Scotland’s whisky distilleries
The aim is for green hydrogen to be produced using energy generated by onshore and offshore wind farms. The fuel could be used in industrial processes, such as heating stills for whisky distilleries, or plant operations in the port. Greig Cameron discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Whisky goes green … Continue reading Green hydrogen seen as way forward for Scotland’s whisky distilleries
There is currently limited evidence for a quick transition to renewables in Africa
Galina Alova and Philipp Trotter of the University of Oxford write on The Conversation website about how they see the energy transition unfolding in Africa. Worryingly, it is going to be difficult to transition to renewable energies. Renewables represent only 10 % of Africa’s electricity production and even though they will significantly expand this decade, … Continue reading There is currently limited evidence for a quick transition to renewables in Africa
Recent study shows energy-intensive industries failing to meet long-term Paris climate objectives
Only 14% of publicly listed companies in the steel, cement, aluminum, paper and mining sector are on track to meet the Paris Agreement’s 2°C climate target, according to a report by the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI), a global investor group supported by the UN. Still, some European companies offer hope, Lukas Scheid reports on the … Continue reading Recent study shows energy-intensive industries failing to meet long-term Paris climate objectives
