Energy in Demand News, June 30, 2024

Some of the world's biggest companies (including IKEA and Unilever), finance houses, cities and regions have joined forces to urge governments to increase their climate ambition ahead of a February 2025 deadline to deliver their emission-cutting plans to the United Nations. The coalition is named Mission 2025. It is convened by Groundswell - a collaboration … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 30, 2024 →

Klimate R Us

Many parents trying to consume better or less are finding these attempts thwarted by the consumerist frenzy of their kids, under pressure to fit in and forge an identity. Cécile Cazenave discusses how to curb children’s consumption in an article on the Le Monde website. Will our children's consumption ruin our efforts to protect … Continue reading Klimate R Us →

New EEA assessments on key air pollutant emissions

Key air pollutant emissions targeted for reductions and monitored under EU legislation continued to decline across most EU Member States according to the latest data assessment published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) this week. However, reducing ammonia emissions remains a problem. Key air pollutant emissions decline across the EU, reducing ammonia biggest challenge … Continue reading New EEA assessments on key air pollutant emissions →

New EEA monitoring tool and briefing on plastics circularity

Plastics production and consumption patterns across Europe remain unsustainable and need to be made more circular to reduce waste, pollution, climate change and other negative impacts on the environment according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week. The briefing also highlights the introduction of a new monitoring tool where people, policy makers … Continue reading New EEA monitoring tool and briefing on plastics circularity →

Climate change is affecting wine producers everywhere but farmers producing prosecco in Italy have been plunged into crisis mode

In an article by Ajit Niranjan on the Guardian website, farmers and researchers tell of the impact of a rapidly changing climate, and the measures being taken to adapt. From parched earth to landslides: crisis in the prosecco hills of Italy Paola Ferraro marches through the neat grids of vines that chequer the slopes … Continue reading Climate change is affecting wine producers everywhere but farmers producing prosecco in Italy have been plunged into crisis mode →

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 →