Editorial from EEA Executive Director on reaching our desired destination: a sustainable, resilient Europe

The Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, Leena Ylä-Mononen, has published a very insightful and valuable editorial this week as the new policy cycle begins in the European Union.   Time to speed up towards a sustainable and resilient Europe Europe’s economy and wellbeing of its citizens depend crucially on a healthy and resilient … Continue reading Editorial from EEA Executive Director on reaching our desired destination: a sustainable, resilient Europe

Energy in Demand News, September 22, 2024

Global leaders will gather in New York next week for the UN Summit of the Future, the centrepiece of this year’s launch of the annual United Nations General Assembly. UN Secretary General, António Guterres, will try to persuade world leaders to extend their horizons beyond current wars by adopting a “Pact for the Future,” an … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, September 22, 2024

New EEA briefing on the use of “forever chemicals”

Reducing the use of PFAS —known as forever chemicals— in clothing, furniture and other textile products, is important to increase recyclability and the transition to a more circular economy according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week.   Safe and sustainable alternatives could reduce use of PFAS in textiles and enhance reuse … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the use of “forever chemicals”

Energy in Demand News, September 8, 2024

The new academic year is now upon us. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) discusses a new study that raises concerns about university ties to the fossil fuel sector. The study provides the first review of research looking at the sector’s extensive role in higher education. It draws from nearly three dozen reports on how … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, September 8, 2024

Los Angeles is promising a “car-free” Summer Games for 2028 Olympics

The car remains king in LA, despite growing public transit options. Los Angeles is a city where the car remains king. It dismantled its public transport system after World War II. Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, at Boston University, in an article on The Conversation website discusses the challenges … Continue reading Los Angeles is promising a “car-free” Summer Games for 2028 Olympics

EEA publishes updated European city air quality viewer: Uppsala is Europe’s cleanest city

Published this week, European Environment Agency’s (EEA) updated European city air quality viewer shows that people in Uppsala and Umeå, Sweden, and Faro, Portugal, can enjoy the cleanest city air in Europe. Three out of four Europeans live in urban areas and most of them are exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution. Improving air … Continue reading EEA publishes updated European city air quality viewer: Uppsala is Europe’s cleanest city

“We need to embrace a circular economy for our energy landscapes”

In an article on The Conversation website, Martin J. Pasqualetti, Professor of Geography and Senior Global Futures Scientist, Arizona State University; Chad Walker, Assistant professor, Low-carbon Transitions, School of Planning, Dalhousie University; and Michelle Adams, Associate professor, School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University discuss the need for the recycling of energy landscapes in … Continue reading “We need to embrace a circular economy for our energy landscapes”

Energy in Demand News, August 18, 2024

Expanding oil production certainly gets a lot of attention these days. In an energy newsletter by the Financial Times (behind a paywall) this week, the lead article was on a technology breakthrough by Chevron that could extend the production lifespan of the US Gulf of Mexico oil basin and “and potentially bring billions of additional … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 18, 2024

The US government has told campaigners that it will push for a new global treaty on plastic waste to limit the production of plastics rather than just encouraging measures like recycling

In an article on the Climate Home News website, Joe Lo writes about the US government’s shift in its position on plastic pollution. The shift sparked accusations of betrayal from the plastics industry and celebrations from environmental campaigners and a Pacific negotiator.   US turns against plastic producers, boosting hopes for ambitious treaty After two … Continue reading The US government has told campaigners that it will push for a new global treaty on plastic waste to limit the production of plastics rather than just encouraging measures like recycling

Blog by James Ritter: How does reducing our water consumption impact the environment?

Water is an essential part of life on Earth, so it’s crucial that we carefully consider and monitor how we are using it. With the global population expanding and water scarcity being exacerbated by climate change, the need to be mindful of our water consumption is more important than ever. Not only does conserving water … Continue reading Blog by James Ritter: How does reducing our water consumption impact the environment?