The World Trade Organization's Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) recently took place in Abu Dhabi (February 26-March 2). In its energy update, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) wrote that “fossil fuel subsidy reform conversations have made marked progress at the WTO. Last week, the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform initiative—comprised of 48 members—delivered a new … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 10, 2024
Category: EU policies
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
New EEA briefing on initiatives taken in Europe on waste management and circular economy
Recycling, repair, re-use or reducing material consumption through circular business models can provide important additional reductions in GHG emissions helping to boost Europe’s climate change mitigation efforts, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week. Better links between waste management, circular economy and climate change mitigation measures can boost greenhouse gas … Continue reading New EEA briefing on initiatives taken in Europe on waste management and circular economy
Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024
Financing the climate and energy transition is facing ever more difficulties – as I’m sure you see in your own country. At the global level, COP26 in Glasgow approved the Just Energy Transition Partnerships, a landmark climate finance framework endorsed by world leaders as a way to fund the green transition in poorer countries. However, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024
Czech steel industry is unprepared for decarbonisation both technologically and financially
Ondřej Plevák discusses the challenges the Czech steel industry is facing to decarbonise in an article on the Euractiv website. Czech steel industry unprepared for EU decarbonisation The Czech steel industry is unprepared for decarbonisation, not only technologically but also financially, making it difficult to implement the EU’s decarbonisation plans, experts say. Experts polled … Continue reading Czech steel industry is unprepared for decarbonisation both technologically and financially
Energy in Demand News, February 11, 2024
In all the important climate and energy news this week, two developments stand out. In a case that has lasted 12 years, this week the climate scientist Michael Mann won his defamation lawsuit against two conservative writers who compared his depictions of global heating to the work of a convicted child molester. “I hope this … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 11, 2024
Small modular reactors (SMRs) still included in EU’s climate strategy
Nathan Canas and Paul Messad write on the Euractiv website how SMRs are expected to contribute to achieving the energy and climate objectives of the EU’s European Green Deal. EU aims to deploy Europe’s first small nuclear reactor ‘by 2030’ Small modular reactors (SMRs) will be partly relied upon to meet the EU’s 2040 … Continue reading Small modular reactors (SMRs) still included in EU’s climate strategy
European solar panel manufacturers are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector
As part of its ‘Green Deal Industrial Plan’, the EU wants to boost the domestic production of key technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps, in order to reduce dependence on China. By 2030, the European Commission wants to see 40% of the European demand for solar panels being produced in Europe, … Continue reading European solar panel manufacturers are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector
Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024
This week the European Commission will propose the new level of ambition for GHG emissions reductions it considers necessary for 2040. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) notes that the EU’s climate chief, Wopke Hoekstra, “has warned the bloc must not be lured into a “false narrative” that action against global warming is undermining the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024
Energy in Demand News, January 28, 2024
There is encouraging good news that carbon emissions dropped in the EU in 2023. The Guardian reported on analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) showing that the EU “pumped out 8% less carbon dioxide from the fossil fuels it burned in 2023 than it did in 2022.” Crea analyst … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 28, 2024
