Eurostar, the international high-speed rail service in Western Europe, will now be building its new generation of trains to withstand 55C summers. The new trains, to be built by Alstom, were originally designed to cope with conditions of up to 45C. But the UK Times website quotes Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of Eurostar, saying: “We … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 12-13, 2026
Category: fossil fuels
New report by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO)
urope’s climate transition is showing signs of acceleration – but progress remains too uneven and too slow to strengthen resilience at the pace needed. ECNO's 2026 Flagship Report finds that more than half of the indicators they track have improved their rate of progress compared to last year and that nearly a quarter are now … Continue reading New report by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO)
The oil crisis isn’t over—the safety net is gone
Dmitry Zhdannikov, Robert Harvey and Ahmad Ghaddar write on the Reuters News website about the global economy weathered the Iran-related supply shock by drawing down strategic reserves, but those depleted buffers leave the world more exposed to future disruptions. We definitely need a more sustainable approach to our energy future. World absorbs historic Iran … Continue reading The oil crisis isn’t over—the safety net is gone
Energy in Demand News, July 5-6, 2026
In Canada this week, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen urged decisive action by quoting a famous hockey credo: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." The Trump administration is moving to gut energy efficiency rules for home appliances that are proven to cut demand for power and lower utility bills. The Washington Post … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 5-6, 2026
Energy in Demand News, June 28-29, 2026
The Financial Times reports that Elon Musk’s SpaceX “was awarded the lowest possible environmental, social and governance rating by index provider MSCI [Morgan Stanley Capital International] ahead of the company’s record $75bn public float this month. The triple C assessment means SpaceX has the same score as that awarded to the Russian state on MSCI’s … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 28-29, 2026
China’s new five-year plan accelerates the energy transition
Anika Patel writes on the Carbon Brief website about China's new five-year energy strategy, which strengthens its commitment to renewable energy while retaining coal as a backup, introduces mandatory clean energy consumption targets, and reinforces its position in global clean-energy competition. China Briefing 25 June 2026: Five-year plans passed | Critical-mineral tensions | Industrial … Continue reading China’s new five-year plan accelerates the energy transition
The petrostate meets the electrostate
In an article on The Conversation website, Philippe Le Billon, Professor, Geography Department and School of Public Policy & Global Affairs, University of British Columbia and Suzanne Duroy, a full-time journalist based in Taiwan, discuss the contrast between America's fossil fuel-based "energy dominance" strategy and China's growing leadership in clean energy, viewed through Taiwan's energy … Continue reading The petrostate meets the electrostate
The legacy of climate misinformation and corporate responsibility
Joe Árvai, Professor of Psychology, Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences writes on The Conversation website writes about Lee Raymond's legacy in shaping climate misinformation and how corporate leadership can influence public understanding—and misunderstanding—of climate science. While it begins with the Exxon Valdez spill and Lee Raymond's career, … Continue reading The legacy of climate misinformation and corporate responsibility
The catalytic converter: the environmental technology that changed everything
In an article on The Conversation website, Ann E. Carlson, Professor of Environmental Law, University of California, Los Angeles writes about how California's strict vehicle emissions standards drove the development and adoption of catalytic converters, transforming air quality in the United States and beyond. California’s willingness to maintain strict vehicle emissions standards accelerated the adoption … Continue reading The catalytic converter: the environmental technology that changed everything
Energy in Demand News, June 21-22, 2026
At the recent Bonn Climate Change Conference, climate negotiators met to discuss a range of issues – from mitigation to adaptation, finance to technology and capacity-building – and prepare decisions for adoption at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye in November. Fiona Harvey wrote in the Guardian that for “decades, electrification has been a nerdish backwater of … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 21-22, 2026
