Energy in Demand News, June 9, 2024

Global investors are turning their backs on sustainability-focused stock funds. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) reports that they cite poor performance, scandals and attacks from US Republicans. “Clients have withdrawn a net $40bn from environmental, social and governance (ESG) equity funds this year, according to research from Barclays, the first year that flows have … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 9, 2024 →

New EEA analysis on Europe’s air quality

Air quality has improved considerably in Europe over the past decades, but polluted air is still the biggest environmental health hazard in Europe and globally. According to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) analysis on air quality data for 2022 and 2023, published this week, Europe’s air quality continues improving but, in many areas, especially in … Continue reading New EEA analysis on Europe’s air quality →

Analysts expect the market to rapidly expand in the years ahead for ‘mass timber’

The material is touted as a way to quickly build more housing, but some builders think it's still too unproven. Paula Duhatschek discusses mass timber in an article on the CBC News website. Are any of you using or aware of mass timber? Is mass timber the next big thing in cheaper, greener construction? … Continue reading Analysts expect the market to rapidly expand in the years ahead for ‘mass timber’ →

New way to recycle cement from demolished concrete buildings

In an article on the BBC News website, Justin Rowlatt discusses a new way to recycle cement and massively reduce its carbon footprint. What are your views? UK breakthrough could slash emissions from cement Scientists say they've found a way to recycle cement from demolished concrete buildings. Cement is the modern world's most common … Continue reading New way to recycle cement from demolished concrete buildings →

New EEA assessment on Europe’s bathing waters

Just as our thoughts turn to summer, we now get an assessment of bathing water sites in Europe. The vast majority of bathing water sites in Europe met the European Union's most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing quality standards in 2023, according to the latest annual bathing water assessment published this week. This represents 85% of Europe’s popular bathing waters. As much … Continue reading New EEA assessment on Europe’s bathing waters →

Is London ready to be a “sponge city”?

A sponge city, according to Wikipedia, is a new urban planning model in China that emphasizes flood management via strengthening green infrastructures instead of purely relying on drainage systems. Jacob Evans writes on the BBC News website whether London should become one. What are your views? What about other cities? Would yours be a candidate? … Continue reading Is London ready to be a “sponge city”? →

New briefing by EEA on current state of textile waste in Europe

Starting next year, EU Member States must put separate collection systems in place for textiles. The European Environment Agency’s briefing, published this week, shows that most textile waste in Europe currently ends up in mixed waste and that sorting and recycling capacity need to be urgently scaled up to ensure better and more circular use … Continue reading New briefing by EEA on current state of textile waste in Europe →

Why the benefits of cycling matter

In an article on The Conversation website, Kévin Jean, Maître de conférences en épidémiologie, Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM) ; Audrey de Nazelle, Senior lecturer, Imperial College London ; Marion Leroutier, Postdoc Fellow, Institute for Fiscal Studies ; and Philippe Quirion, Directeur de recherche, économie, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) discuss the benefits of … Continue reading Why the benefits of cycling matter →

Comment on new report showing global economy is consuming ever more natural resources, while the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals

The International Resource Panel (IRP) of UNEP has just published a report Global Resources Outlook 2024. One of the authors Anders Wijkman, a member of the IRP, an honorary president of the Club of Rome and a friend of EiD has written this commentary on the report in an article on the Reuters website. What … Continue reading Comment on new report showing global economy is consuming ever more natural resources, while the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals →

New report by EEA on water-related impacts of climate change on health and well-being that are already felt across Europe

Climate change is worsening floods, droughts and is reducing water quality, posing an increasing threat to our health, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published this week. Fast-tracking implementation and better coordination of efforts by governments, water authorities and healthcare providers are urgently needed to prevent and reduce health impacts. Climate health … Continue reading New report by EEA on water-related impacts of climate change on health and well-being that are already felt across Europe →