The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals is progressing in some areas, while in others, it is just beginning. This is the finding of a first, joint Europe-wide assessment of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published this week. The benchmarking … Continue reading New assessment from EEA and ECHA of the drivers and impact of chemical pollution
Category: environment
Energy in Demand News, April 14, 2024
This week Politico reported about a leaked draft report outlining the EU’s priorities for the next five years. It hardly mentions climate and shockingly only mentions “environment” as a promise to create a “business-friendly environment.” The report says that green groups are incensed. “This plan expects 20th-century military strategy to protect people from 21st-century security … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 14, 2024
Upcoming Paris Olympics halving the carbon footprint of London 2012 and Rio 2016
Organisers say they are setting a precedent by using existing or temporary venues for most events and focusing on low-carbon building for the rest. Angelique Chrisafis discusses the plans in an article on the Guardian website. 'Greenest ever Games’: how the Paris Olympics hopes to inspire a new era of global sporting events Beneath … Continue reading Upcoming Paris Olympics halving the carbon footprint of London 2012 and Rio 2016
New uncertainties and challenges that stand in the way of Ghana’s latest efforts to develop an integrated aluminium industry
In an article on The Conversation website, Theophilus Acheampong, Associate Lecturer, University of Aberdeen and Matthew Tyce, Lecturer in International Political Economy, King's College London discuss how the clean energy transition is affecting Ghana’s ambitions for industrial development. Ghana’s decades-old ambition to build an integrated aluminium industry faces a new hurdle: the clean energy … Continue reading New uncertainties and challenges that stand in the way of Ghana’s latest efforts to develop an integrated aluminium industry
Polish court overturns approval for controversial open-cast coal mine that had negative impact on Czech neighbours
Aneta Zachová and Barbora Pištorová write on the Euractiv website about a Polish court decision that defended Czech citizens who were negatively impacted on controversial Polish coal mine. One wonders how the mine was approved in the first place. Polish court sides with Czechs, cancels environmental assessment of controversial mine A Polish court has … Continue reading Polish court overturns approval for controversial open-cast coal mine that had negative impact on Czech neighbours
98% of Europeans live in areas with unhealthy levels of PM2.5
While air pollution levels have improved significantly over the past 20 years, so much more to do because it is estimated that 98% of Europeans live in areas that the World Health Organization says have unhealthy levels of PM2.5. Helena Horton discusses the findings in an article on the Guardian website. Air pollution levels … Continue reading 98% of Europeans live in areas with unhealthy levels of PM2.5
Rats leaving a sinking ship: how the European Energy Charter helped energy efficiency
In an article in the March issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, looks at the evolution of the international Energy Charter Treaty and why the UK government has decided to withdraw from its obligations. Is the Energy Charter Treaty a sinking ship? Later this … Continue reading Rats leaving a sinking ship: how the European Energy Charter helped energy efficiency
New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks
Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, and climate risks are threatening its energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability, and people’s health. According to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment, published this week, many of these risks have already reached critical levels and could become catastrophic without urgent and … Continue reading New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks
New EEA briefing on environmental impact of textile consumption in Europe
Textile consumption in Europe causes significant pressures on the environment and climate. Part of these pressures comes from returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed and never used for their intended purpose. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing looks at the issue and estimates the share of returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed … Continue reading New EEA briefing on environmental impact of textile consumption in Europe
Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024
The bad news from the IEA this week is that, globally, CO2 emissions increased by 410 million tonnes, or 1.1%, in 2023. The good news from the IEA is that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose less strongly in 2023 than the year before even as total energy demand growth accelerated. IEA analysis shows that the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 