Scotland provides important lessons in how to implement energy efficiency

Devolution has freed the Scottish government to come up with innovative publicly funded energy-saving schemes. Whitehall should take note of their success according to Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, writing in the July/August issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Scotland can show England the way There has been much … Continue reading Scotland provides important lessons in how to implement energy efficiency →

New report from EIB on what drives firms’ investment in climate change

The European Investment Bank has recently published its most recent EIB investment survey. From extreme heatwaves and wildfires to in North America to the deadly flooding in Western Europe and Asia in 2021, the dramatic rise in catastrophic weather events has repercussions for firms. At the same time, cutting emissions sufficiently to limit global warming … Continue reading New report from EIB on what drives firms’ investment in climate change →

While spending on renewables is going up globally, the increase is due to rising prices rather than investments in new clean energy capacity

The International Energy Agency projects that spending on renewables in 2022 will exceed the record $440 billion invested last year. Despite the accelerated spending on green technologies, the world still is not on track to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, IEA said. Benjamin Storrow from E&E News discusses latest developments in an article on the … Continue reading While spending on renewables is going up globally, the increase is due to rising prices rather than investments in new clean energy capacity →

The UK is in a strong position to lead efforts on developing an international carbon border adjustment mechanism

A ‘carbon border adjustment mechanism’ on imported goods from polluting factories overseas could help to address the thorny issue of carbon leakage, argues Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation in the June issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. It’s not a tax, it’s just an adjustment mechanism Cheap imports of … Continue reading The UK is in a strong position to lead efforts on developing an international carbon border adjustment mechanism →

Modernisation of Energy Charter Treaty seen as “a real threat” to the landmark Paris climate agreement

The members of the Energy Charter Treaty on Friday struck a deal to “modernise” the energy charter treaty. The 1994 agreement allows investors to sue governments for changes in energy policy that harm their profits. The compromise agreement, which was largely designed by the EU, reduces the protection afforded to companies that have invested in … Continue reading Modernisation of Energy Charter Treaty seen as “a real threat” to the landmark Paris climate agreement →

Clean energy funding to surge 12% in 2022, remains insufficient

Global energy investment is set to increase by 8% this year, the energy forum has estimated. Dimitris Mavrokefalidis discusses the IEA report on the Energy Live News website. The report is available here. IEA: “Capital spending is insufficient to tackle the energy and climate crises” The current level of global capital spending is still … Continue reading Clean energy funding to surge 12% in 2022, remains insufficient →

The problem with renewable energy certificates

Anders Bjørn, Postdoctoral fellow in environmental science, Concordia University; H. Damon Matthews, Professor, Concordia University; Matthew Brander, University of Edinburgh; and Shannon M Lloyd, Concordia University, write on The Conversation website about a new study that shows that companies largely rely on renewable energy certificates to report steep electricity emissions reductions and that this is … Continue reading The problem with renewable energy certificates →

A new twist to ESG investing

When making a quick judgement on a company or other investment proposition, don’t take any assertions of ethical behaviour at face value, writes Hamish McRae in an article on The Independent website. Ethical investing is harder than it looks – here’s why It is a tough one. Do investors have to choose between ethics … Continue reading A new twist to ESG investing →

New EIB report on investors’ views on how the public sector can help to address the risks and challenges of the move towards a more hydrogen-fuelled economy

Robin Whitlock writes on the Renewable Energy Magazine website about a new report from the European Investment Bank that provides key insights into the main drivers behind the European hydrogen market and how the EIB should address them. New report finds that the international investment community recognises both the opportunity for hydrogen deployment and … Continue reading New EIB report on investors’ views on how the public sector can help to address the risks and challenges of the move towards a more hydrogen-fuelled economy →

Finance, whether green or otherwise labeled, will not come to the rescue of the planet

'Le Monde' journalist Eric Albert explains how the global head of responsible investing at HSBC bank dared to voice what most financiers are thinking: that climate change does not affect finance. Green finance will not save the planet Stuart Kirk jolted everyone in the room awake. At a May 20 conference hosted by the … Continue reading Finance, whether green or otherwise labeled, will not come to the rescue of the planet →