Europe’s wildfire future: prevention helps, but climate action is essential

Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website that Europe can reduce the growing wildfire threat through prevention and better management, but ultimately cannot manage its way out of continued climate warming. In another summer of European wildfires that have even seen wetlands burning, scientists say the situation is set to worsen in the future. … Continue reading Europe’s wildfire future: prevention helps, but climate action is essential

Cooling AI in the ocean — solution or new environmental problem?

In an article on The Conversation website, Nir Kshetri, Professor of Management, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, discusses the tension between AI’s enormous infrastructure needs and the environmental consequences of moving that infrastructure into the sea.   AI companies look to the ocean as a place to put more data centers The artificial intelligence … Continue reading Cooling AI in the ocean — solution or new environmental problem?

Net zero needs standards — will ISO 14060 deliver?

The International Organization for Standardization opened a public consultation on the draft version of its Net Zero Standard in June 2026. The draft includes requirements for transition planning, emissions-reduction targets and pathway-setting, net-zero action, and counterbalancing residual emissions. Eve Fraser and Thomas Day write on the New Climate Institute website review the draft and provide … Continue reading Net zero needs standards — will ISO 14060 deliver?

The ‘forever chemicals’ hidden in the clean energy transition

In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Stuart Braun questions whether the technologies intended to solve one environmental crisis depend on chemicals that create another. As nations globally move to ban forever chemicals, should renewable energy technologies be exempt for the sake of saving the climate?   Can we go green without forever chemicals? … Continue reading The ‘forever chemicals’ hidden in the clean energy transition

The European Commission publishes a series of guidance documents to support CBAM implementation in the definitive period

On 14 August 2026, the European Commission published a series of ten guidance documents to help non-EU operators with the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) during its definitive period. The CBAM's definitive period brings monitoring, reporting and financial obligations for importers of carbon-intensive goods into the EU, set out in the CBAM … Continue reading The European Commission publishes a series of guidance documents to support CBAM implementation in the definitive period

Energy in Demand News, August 16-17, 2026

The Financial Times, a newspaper of record for business and politics, has become almost passionate about climate change. “Even now, when weather records are being broken, when climate change is demonstrably here, not in the future, we seem frozen. We still go about our carbon-greedy lives: snapping up the last air-conditioning unit, booking another flight, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 16-17, 2026

Small reactors, big promises — but can SMRs deliver?

Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website questioning whether SMRs can live up to the considerable claims being made for them, particularly on cost, timing, safety and climate impact. Schauenberg looks at what's behind the SMR hype.   The big catch with small modular nuclear reactors Many politicians and tech companies are now pushing to build new nuclear power … Continue reading Small reactors, big promises — but can SMRs deliver?

Europe looks south for its clean energy future

Felicity Bradstock writes on the Oil Price website about how Europe turning to North Africa’s enormous renewable resources to strengthen energy security and accelerate electrification.   Europe Bets Billions on North Africa’s Clean Energy Potential The EU’s T-MED initiative aims to mobilize billions of euros for renewable energy, hydrogen, clean technology, and electricity networks across … Continue reading Europe looks south for its clean energy future

The growing cost of climate-proofing France’s energy system

A news item on the IN Power website discusses how the state-owned electric utility, Electricité de France (EDF), plans major investment in resilience across French generation assets. The €8.7 billion programme covers nuclear, hydropower, and island operations through 2040.   EDF assigns €8.7bn to French generation resilience IN Brief: EDF’s €8.7 billion plan covers nuclear, … Continue reading The growing cost of climate-proofing France’s energy system

Can solar farms feed both AI and us?

In an article on The Conversation website, Joshua M. Pearce, John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation and Professor, Western University, discusses the apparent conflict between AI’s huge electricity appetite and protecting farmland, with agrivoltaics offering a way to solve both problems.   ‘Agrivoltaics’ can both power AI data centres and increase food … Continue reading Can solar farms feed both AI and us?