New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe

Despite legislative steps forward over the past five years, efforts to transform Europe’s largely linear, ‘throw-away’ economy into a circular one will require further bold action and strong implementation of existing measures. Decisive action is essential to drastically reduce waste, prioritise reduction of resource use, improve recycling rates and improve the introduction of products that … Continue reading New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe →

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 →

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 →

Energy in Demand News, March 10, 2024

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 →

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 →