Europe’s progress towards sustainability requires new means of consumption and production with significantly lower impacts. This horizon scan explores those rapidly developing digital trends and technologies, and some of the opportunities and risks they present for sustainability. EEA-Eionet horizon scan – emerging trends in production and consumption Key messages Digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) … Continue reading New EEA briefing on progress towards sustainability by exploring rapidly developing digital trends and technologies
Category: environment
Energy in Demand News, September 20-21, 2026
Multilateral development banks are under pressure from the United States to scrap climate finance targets. “The UN agreement to provide $1.3tn in climate finance is under threat, as multilateral lenders are expected to follow the World Bank in dumping green targets after intense US pressure,” the Financial Times reports. “At least two multilateral development banks, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, September 20-21, 2026
Climate change is redrawing the world’s wine map
In an article on The Conversation website, Kathiana Luk, Andrew Dowdy and Hamish Clarke, all from The University of Melbourne, discuss how climate change is beginning to redraw the world’s wine map. Traditional regions are becoming hotter, drier and more fire-prone, while cooler places may become increasingly suitable for varieties previously grown much farther south. … Continue reading Climate change is redrawing the world’s wine map
Who pays the climate cost of Heathrow expansion?
In an article on the BBC News website, Matt McGrath discusses Heathrow airport expansion and the credibility of the UK’s net-zero commitment. The Climate Change Committee is not saying Heathrow expansion is impossible; it is saying the economics must include the full cost of dealing with aviation’s emissions—and that some of the technology being relied … Continue reading Who pays the climate cost of Heathrow expansion?
COP31: The EU says climate promises are no longer enough
Marta Pacheco writes on the Euronews website that the draft EU position for COP31 says that current implementation is insufficient and calls for concrete progress on renewables, energy efficiency, electrification and moving away from fossil fuels. EU heads to COP31 with a blunt message: climate pledges are no longer enough EU ambassadors want COP31 … Continue reading COP31: The EU says climate promises are no longer enough
Drought knows no borders. The world’s response still does.
In an article on The Conversation website, Susan Ann Samuel, Postdoctoral Researcher, International Climate Politics, University of Leeds, discusses failure of international politics to keep pace with a problem that is already affecting virtually every part of the world. Climate, biodiversity and land degradation are treated institutionally as separate problems when, physically, they are deeply … Continue reading Drought knows no borders. The world’s response still does.
Electric cars aren’t carbon neutral — but they’re still much cleaner
In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Martin Kuebler discusses the clash between claims that EVs are not really climate-friendly once their full life cycle is considered and evidence that, even after battery production and electricity generation are included, EVs still have substantially lower lifetime emissions than combustion-engine cars. Some German politicians are calling … Continue reading Electric cars aren’t carbon neutral — but they’re still much cleaner
Strong economic case for tackling pollution and climate change together, UN finds
Tackling air pollution and climate change together would boost global GDP by 2.8 per cent by 2035, according to a UN report, as the majority of the world continues to be exposed to air that remains below global quality standards. UN: Every US$1 invested in climate and clean-air action can return US$15 Every US$1 … Continue reading Strong economic case for tackling pollution and climate change together, UN finds
Energy in Demand News, September 6-7, 2026
Maersk, the integrated container logistics company, has signed a deal to install the first wind sail on a container ship, the Financial Times reports, noting that the maritime industry is returning “to an age-old technology to cut fuel consumption and comply with tougher environmental regulations. The sail, a 35m-high rotor sail designed by the British … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, September 6-7, 2026
UNEP: World set to cross 1.5°C global warming, but can still limit, adapt to and return from higher temperatures
Report puts best-case scenario peak temperature rise at 1.8°C; others suggest over 2°C Above 1.5°C, climate impacts and risks of tipping points intensify with every fraction of a degree ‘Overshoot, peak and decline’ pathway best remaining option to help vulnerable nations and communities cope and return to below 1.5°C Global temperature rise is set to … Continue reading UNEP: World set to cross 1.5°C global warming, but can still limit, adapt to and return from higher temperatures
