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 →

Disproportionate focus of manufacturers on large SUVs and premium models means we have too few mass-market cars

New analysis by Transport & Environment shows how the car market is being distorted by large SUVs. The analysis is discussed in an article on the T&E website. Carmakers are failing to deliver affordable electric cars, holding back EV adoption – analysis Only 17% of electric cars sold are in the more affordable ‘B’ … Continue reading Disproportionate focus of manufacturers on large SUVs and premium models means we have too few mass-market cars →

New EEA briefing on the ‘just transition’ to sustainability

What do we mean by a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable future? A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, looks into how a shift to a greener, climate-neutral, circular economy will impact our society and describes how policies must be informed by concepts of justice and fairness if they are to succeed. … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the ‘just transition’ to sustainability →

Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

This weekend sees the first of three sessions of the European Citizens' Energy Efficiency Panel in Brussels with 150 European citizens discussing how energy may be used in the EU and how the energy system should change. Participants are focusing on different aspects of energy efficiency that consumers might encounter at home, in communities or … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024 →

Meeting Hannah Ritchie: the ‘techno-realist’ discusses climate change

In an article on the CBC News website, Sheena Goodyear interviews Hannah Ritchie, a University of Oxford data and environmental scientist, who calls for ‘urgent optimism’ in her newly published book Not The End of the World. This scientist was paralyzed by the threat of climate change. How she found hope It's hard to … Continue reading Meeting Hannah Ritchie: the ‘techno-realist’ discusses climate change →