New EEA briefing on urgency to decarbonise heating

About half of the EU’s final energy consumption goes to heating, making it a key focus area in Europe’s efforts to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, analyses this energy segment, urging investment in building renovations and modern renewable energy solutions. Renovations and … Continue reading New EEA briefing on urgency to decarbonise heating →

Fossil fuel companies spent millions of dollars on advertisements containing climate disinformation and greenwashing at COP27

Fossil fuel companies spent $4m on climate disinformation at COP27 in Egypt, with majority of content originating from a US based PR firm. Stuti Mishra discusses the disinformation efforts in an article on The Independent website. Fossil fuel lobby waged $4m disinformation campaign during climate summit, report finds Fossil fuel companies spent millions of … Continue reading Fossil fuel companies spent millions of dollars on advertisements containing climate disinformation and greenwashing at COP27 →

Universities starting to adopt fossil-free careers service

Four British universities have now banned fossil fuel companies from recruiting through their career services as a way to promote the zero-carbon pathway. Damian Carrington discusses latest developments in an article on The Conversation website. Is this happening in other countries? Fossil fuel recruiters banned from three more UK universities Three more UK universities … Continue reading Universities starting to adopt fossil-free careers service →

The latest EU state to leave the Energy Charter Treaty: Luxembourg

The Luxembourg government has decided to exit the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), an international trade and investment agreement concluded in the early 1990s to protect investments in the energy sector, Luxembourg’s Minister of Energy and Spatial Planning, Claude Turmes, announced on Friday 18 November. Frédéric Simon discusses latest developments in an article on the Euractiv website. … Continue reading The latest EU state to leave the Energy Charter Treaty: Luxembourg →

France’s largest bank under pressure to stop financing the development of fossil fuels

NGOs which previously took the French government to court have taken steps towards a lawsuit against the bank, the world's leading financer of oil and gas majors. Stéphane Mandard discusses latest developments in an article on the English section of the Le Monde website. BNP Paribas warned to stop financing fossil fuels and 'climate … Continue reading France’s largest bank under pressure to stop financing the development of fossil fuels →

The world’s most influential banks need to substantially accelerate climate efforts

Many of the world's biggest banks are falling far short of aligning their practices with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the Earth's warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a new report from the IIGCC warns. The report is discussed in an Associated Press news item on The Independent website. Banks far … Continue reading The world’s most influential banks need to substantially accelerate climate efforts →

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 →

Fossil fuel companies have access to an obscure legal tool – the investor-state dispute settlement – that could jeopardise worldwide efforts to protect the climate

If you do a search on the EiD website for the Energy Charter, you will see many posts that show the Energy Charter Treaty could undermine efforts of the Paris climate agreement. Rachel Thrasher, Law Lecturer and Researcher at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, Boston University; Blake Alexander Simmons, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in … Continue reading Fossil fuel companies have access to an obscure legal tool – the investor-state dispute settlement – that could jeopardise worldwide efforts to protect the climate →

New UN group to scrutinise companies’ pledges to cut planet-heating GHG emissions

Saphora Smith writes on the Independent website about a new UN group set up to tackle greenwashing. The chair of the new group, Catherine McKenna, says: ‘I believe that most people want to do the right thing but they have to pushed.’ Hopefully this group will have some real impact. ‘Transparency is the best … Continue reading New UN group to scrutinise companies’ pledges to cut planet-heating GHG emissions →

Research shows that the tactics of climate change activists can yield significant advantages for their cause, but such radical actions also carry significant risks

Climate protesters who take radical and provocative action risk alienating their allies and repression from authorities, but their tactics can yield significant advantages for their cause. Alistair Walsh discusses the impact of climate change activists in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. What do you think? Disruptive climate protests — do they help or … Continue reading Research shows that the tactics of climate change activists can yield significant advantages for their cause, but such radical actions also carry significant risks →