“Wood burning is not a solution for reaching net zero or avoiding high bills for individuals”

Experts say wood-burning is not cheaper or truly renewable and constitutes a major health risk. Gary Fuller discusses recent research in an article on the Guardian website.   The health cost of burning wood to warm homes Dr Tom Smith is a wildfires scientist. His career has focused on tracking down wildland fires in savannahs and … Continue reading “Wood burning is not a solution for reaching net zero or avoiding high bills for individuals”

Reform of EU electricity market design: Council and Parliament reach deal

Members states and the European Parliament found a deal on Thursday to stabilise prices and favour investment in decarbonated energy. The deal is described in an article on the Le Monde website. The European Council’s press release on the agreement is here.   European Union reaches deal to reform electricity market The European Union reached … Continue reading Reform of EU electricity market design: Council and Parliament reach deal

It will take a major effort to overcome the obstacles and reach the COP28 plan to triple renewables by 2030

Sarah Mcfarlane and Susanna Twidale write on the Reuters website about the challenges the renewable energy and grid industries face to meet the 2030 target for tripling renewable energy capacity.   COP28 plan to triple renewables is doable, but not easy, companies say More than 100 countries at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai have … Continue reading It will take a major effort to overcome the obstacles and reach the COP28 plan to triple renewables by 2030

While China is deploying renewables at a fast pace, It is far behind in improving energy efficiency

In an article on The Conversation website, Xu Yi-chong, Professor of Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University in Australia discusses latest developments in China. Because China accounts for a third of global GHG emissions, what it does has a big impact. Importantly he states that China has been looking for better coordination with the US … Continue reading While China is deploying renewables at a fast pace, It is far behind in improving energy efficiency

Some reaction to the complexity of transitioning away from fossil fuels

In an excerpt from the Today’s WorldView newsletter of the Washington Post, Ishaan Tharoor analyses some of the important decarbonisation issues from COP28.   U.N. climate talks chart a complex course away from fossil fuels At the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Dubai, dubbed COP28, which drew to a close this week, tens of thousands of … Continue reading Some reaction to the complexity of transitioning away from fossil fuels

COP28 agreement “falls short in addressing the use of fossil fuels at the heart of the climate crisis”

In an article on The Conversation website, Alaa Al Khourdajie, Research Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London; Chris Bataille, Adjunct Research Fellow in Energy and Climate Policy, Columbia University; and Lars J Nilsson, Professor of Environmental and Energy Systems Studies, Lund University in Sweden argue that the approach agreed upon at COP28 is … Continue reading COP28 agreement “falls short in addressing the use of fossil fuels at the heart of the climate crisis”

Energy in Demand News, December 10, 2023

At COP28, the first “Global Stocktake,” will assess the results of national and international collective action to curb climate change. The UN's Global Stocktake synthesis draft report, released in September, shows that despite some progress since the Paris Agreement in 2015, the world is still far off track to reduce emissions enough to keep temperature … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 10, 2023

Appreciate the limitations of carbon capture and “focus on real solutions”

The oil and gas industry wants you to believe it can capture its emissions and keep drilling as usual. That’s no way to avert climate chaos according to Laurence Tubiana and Emmanuel Guérin from the European Climate Foundation in an article on the EURACTIV website. It is behind a paywall, but Peter Coy writes an … Continue reading Appreciate the limitations of carbon capture and “focus on real solutions”

There is a wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that a fossil fuel phase-out will be essential for reining in the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change

In an article on The Conversation website, Steve Pye, Associate Professor in Energy Systems, UCL writes that President Sultan Al Jaber of COP28 is wrong to say there is no since indicating phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to restrict global heating to 1.5°C.   COP28 president is wrong – science clearly shows fossil fuels … Continue reading There is a wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that a fossil fuel phase-out will be essential for reining in the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change

Reaction to the European Council and Parliament reaching a deal on the proposal to revise the energy performance of buildings directive

The European Council and the  European Parliament this week reached provisional political agreement on a proposal to revise the energy performance of buildings directive. The revised directive sets new and more ambitious energy performance requirements for new and renovated buildings in the EU and encourages member states to renovate their building stock. Under the deal, … Continue reading Reaction to the European Council and Parliament reaching a deal on the proposal to revise the energy performance of buildings directive