What is pollution and how does it affect us and the environment? Europe is taking action to reduce pollution and, as part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission put forward a zero-pollution ambition for Europe. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published recently, looks at the pollution challenge in Europe from different … Continue reading New EEA report on the pollution challenge in Europe
Category: EU policies
EC presents new methane strategy
The European Commission has presented a strategy to curb emissions from the potent greenhouse gas methane. But environmental campaigners remain sceptical it will be enough. Beatrice Christofaro discusses the strategy in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Does the EU's methane strategy go far enough? From thawing permafrost, to burping cows, to leaking pipelines, … Continue reading EC presents new methane strategy
Understanding Europe’s Renovation Wave
The European Commission unveiled a new energy efficiency strategy that could see 35 million buildings renovated and up to 160,000 green jobs created. It is useful to go directly to the EC website to have a better understanding. The following are questions and answers to help us better understand this new initiative. Questions and … Continue reading Understanding Europe’s Renovation Wave
Understanding the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)
We must reduce GHG emissions to net zero by 2050 to have a reasonable chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Human activities - mainly the burning of fossil fuels - are currently emitting far too much CO2 every year. One approach to reducing CO2 emissions is emissions trading – it is carrot-and-stick: emitters of … Continue reading Understanding the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)
Investing in renewable energy and promoting electric vehicles is far from being enough to limit global warming and achieve sustainability
Shifting to electric vehicles while maintaining current travelling habits will not deliver emissions reductions required by European Green Deal and Paris Agreement. Margarita Mediavilla and Khaled Diab discuss the issues in an article on The Ecologist website. The unsustainability of the electric car The European Green Deal sets ambitious targets for decarbonising the European … Continue reading Investing in renewable energy and promoting electric vehicles is far from being enough to limit global warming and achieve sustainability
Discussing the concerns about the EU’s net-zero emissions plans
The net-zero emissions plans in the EU have come under fire because they include not only emissions from fossil fuel burning and cement production, but also CO₂ removal by “carbon sinks” like forests or the soil. Wolfgang Knorr, Senior Research Scientist, Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science at Lund University reviews on The Conversation website what … Continue reading Discussing the concerns about the EU’s net-zero emissions plans
New JRC report: Untapping multiple benefits: hidden values in environmental and building policies
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has recently published an important new research study on how we can untap the multi benefits from improved energy efficiency in our buildings policies. The untapped / hidden benefits of environmental policies are huge. This piece of research showcases and places a monetary value on the added benefits … Continue reading New JRC report: Untapping multiple benefits: hidden values in environmental and building policies
A struggle between the few financial institutions that are pushing for an ambitious new European green finance policy framework and incumbent vested interests opposing it
New analysis from InfluenceMap warns 19 out of 20 industry lobby groups are actively opposing measures contained within the EU's proposed Sustainable Finance Strategy. This article was published on the Business Green website. Are 'vested interests' threatening the EU's sustainable finance strategy? EU efforts to establish an ambitious sustainable finance policy are being undermined … Continue reading A struggle between the few financial institutions that are pushing for an ambitious new European green finance policy framework and incumbent vested interests opposing it
Is it time to change our priorities for mitigating GHG emissions from energy efficiency improvements?
I’m worried that the energy efficiency community will be accused of fake news. I think we have deluded ourselves into thinking that energy efficiency really will be the most cost-effective way to achieve impressive greenhouse gas emission reductions. We’ve been saying that for years, but… Let’s just look at buildings. There are lots of initiatives … Continue reading Is it time to change our priorities for mitigating GHG emissions from energy efficiency improvements?
European Commission has launched the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance with industry leaders, civil society, national and regional ministers and the EIB
It has taken a long time for a major push to promote hydrogen but the EU came out with its new hydrogen strategy this week. The priority is to produce hydrogen from renewables and hopefully only renewables if it is to be truly sustainable. The renews.biz website provides a news item on developments this week. … Continue reading European Commission has launched the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance with industry leaders, civil society, national and regional ministers and the EIB
