Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system

In the last 15 years, the US has seen a dramatic change in its shift to a carbon-free electric power system. Ryan Wiser, Bentham Paulos, Dev Millstein and Joseph Rand from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory write on The Conversation website about this shift. Pay particular attention to what has happened to projected energy demand. … Continue reading Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system →

Bitcoin and other digital currencies come with astonishing environmental costs

The company’s stock market arrival establishes Bitcoin and other digital currencies in the traditional financial landscape. It also elevates a technology with astonishing environmental costs. Hiroko Tabuchi discusses the energy implications in an article on the New York Times website. In Coinbase’s Rise, a Reminder: Cryptocurrencies Use Lots of Energy The stock market debut … Continue reading Bitcoin and other digital currencies come with astonishing environmental costs →

Coverage of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy: Working Group on the Energy Transition

The High-Level Dialogue on Energy is the first global gathering on energy under the auspices of the UN General Assembly since the UN Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy in 1981. Second meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Energy Transition The second meeting of the Technical Working Group on the … Continue reading Coverage of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy: Working Group on the Energy Transition →

Impact of environmental taxes in the UK

A report from the UK National Audit Office acknowledges the benefits of taxation on organisations but questions what specific effects they achieve. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, discusses the issues in an article in the April 2021 issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Environmental taxes work – but we’re … Continue reading Impact of environmental taxes in the UK →

Air pollution from Europe’s coal plants could be responsible for up to 34,000 deaths across the continent each year

Research ‘adds to growing evidence about the co-benefits of responding to climate change and air pollution together’, a scientist tells Daisy Dunne of The Independent. Pollution from Europe’s coal plants responsible for ‘up to 34,000 deaths each year’ Air pollution from Europe’s coal plants could be responsible for up to 34,000 deaths across the … Continue reading Air pollution from Europe’s coal plants could be responsible for up to 34,000 deaths across the continent each year →

Where does nuclear power belong in our concerns over sustainability?

Lobbying by pro-nuclear stakeholders and a new report that concludes “the fuel qualifies as sustainable” under green investments has led to Greenpeace Europe warning the European Commission against reinstating nuclear power on the list of activities deemed sustainable by the European Union. Kevin O’Sullivan discusses latest developments in an article on the Irish Times website. … Continue reading Where does nuclear power belong in our concerns over sustainability? →

Four guiding principles can help build the political support needed to meet North America’s new-found climate ambition

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 →

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 →