Hopes that green capital markets could quickly close Europe’s green investment gap are overblown

The Jacques Delors Centre recently published a policy brief by Sebastian Mack. He argues that with key reforms of the Capital Markets Union stalled, the European Green Deal will rely mainly on bank lending. EU policymakers should acknowledge this and shift the focus to greening banks. The Jacques Delors Centre, founded by Jacques Delors in … Continue reading Hopes that green capital markets could quickly close Europe’s green investment gap are overblown →

We need “no-regrets solutions” to address the climate transition

Decarbonising industry will be require to change equipment but also promote technical progress in clean alternatives while encouraging citizens and companies to reduce their consumption. Philippe Escande discusses the challenges in a column on the Le Monde website. 'The climate transition is a transformation similar in magnitude to past industrial revolutions' The ArcelorMittal steel … Continue reading We need “no-regrets solutions” to address the climate transition →

The world’s existing fleet of coal-fired plants grew by 19.5GW last year, of which more than half was commissioned in China

The world needs to stop building new plants and close existing ones at almost five times the current rate to meet Paris agreement goals. In order to meet the Paris climate agreement, all coal-fired plants need to be closed by 2040 and no new ones can come online but such is not the case at … Continue reading The world’s existing fleet of coal-fired plants grew by 19.5GW last year, of which more than half was commissioned in China →

Is there really a need in Britain for small modular nuclear reactors in the net-zero drive?

Next-generation nuclear technologies will divert resources away from cheaper options that can more quickly contribute to energy security and climate goals, argues Andrew Warren, former special advisor to the House of Commons environment committee and a friend of EiD, in an article on the Business Green website. Small modular reactors are a high-risk and … Continue reading Is there really a need in Britain for small modular nuclear reactors in the net-zero drive? →

Is carbon dioxide capture and storage an important tool for slowing climate change?

Nils Markusson, Lecturer in Environmental Politics at Lancaster University writes on The Conversation website about the possible impact of CCS on addressing climate change. Does carbon capture and storage hype delay emissions cuts? Here’s what research shows Is carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) an important tool for slowing climate change, or merely a … Continue reading Is carbon dioxide capture and storage an important tool for slowing climate change? →

A political battle over firewood’s future in the EU’s energy transition is playing out in Brussels

As Europe races to replace Russian fossil fuels with cleaner power sources, EU lawmakers are weighing up the future of firewood as a renewable energy source. The debate is getting heated. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Sarah Steffen and Tamsin Walker discuss latest developments. EU weighs up future of wood-burning as … Continue reading A political battle over firewood’s future in the EU’s energy transition is playing out in Brussels →

“We are not fully in agreement yet” – Germany facing a growing backlash inside the EU over its U-turn on a law to phase out the combustion engine in new cars by 2035

The row is a further signal of tensions over the green deal landmark proposals to tackle climate crisis. In an article on the Guardian website, Jennifer Rankin and Philip Oltermann discuss what happened in this week’s meetings in Brussels. Germany faces EU backlash over U-turn on phasing out combustion engine Germany is facing a … Continue reading “We are not fully in agreement yet” – Germany facing a growing backlash inside the EU over its U-turn on a law to phase out the combustion engine in new cars by 2035 →

Rather than embrace the task of decarbonising the Australian economy, the new government is going all out to exploit fossil fuels

Richard Denniss, Adjunct Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy at Australian National University writes on The Conversation website about the impact that new fossil fuel projects in Australia will have. It will be interesting how the Australian government explains this at COP28. Australia’s 116 new coal, oil and gas projects equate to … Continue reading Rather than embrace the task of decarbonising the Australian economy, the new government is going all out to exploit fossil fuels →

A pact to phase out fossil fuels in November’s UN climate talks is the only credible response to the warnings of scientists

Simon Lewis, professor of global change science at University College London and University of Leeds provides an opinion piece in the Guardian giving two reasons why the just published IPCC synthesis report is crucial for the upcoming COP28 in November-December. What are your views? The IPCC’s climate report has drawn the battle lines for … Continue reading A pact to phase out fossil fuels in November’s UN climate talks is the only credible response to the warnings of scientists →

French court dismisses NGOs’ case against controversial TotalEnergies projects in east Africa

A French court ruled recently rejected a landmark lawsuit against oil giant TotalEnergies that accused it of failing to protect people and the environment as it pursues oil projects in Uganda and Tanzania. The world’s longest heated oil pipeline will pass through forest reserves and game parks before running alongside Lake Victoria, a source of … Continue reading French court dismisses NGOs’ case against controversial TotalEnergies projects in east Africa →