Solar mystery from early 20th century

In article on The Conversation website, Sugandha Srivastav, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Economics at the University of Oxford unravels a mystery “what if.” You should enjoy this little-known story. If the first solar entrepreneur hadn’t been kidnapped, would fossil fuels have dominated the 20th century the way they did? One argument put forward … Continue reading Solar mystery from early 20th century →

Energy in Demand News, October 15, 2023

Encouragingly, this week the World Bank officially expanded its mission to include climate change, while pushing ahead with reforms that could unlock additional funding and cheaper loans for green projects. The historical objective to “end poverty” should now be achieved “on a livable planet”. The new mission will give the lender the formal mandate to … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 15, 2023 →

“Lego’s pivot is the beginning of a larger trend toward developing sustainable solutions for entire supply chains in a circular economy”

Lego had great intentions to eliminate fossil fuels from its globally known bricks. As more companies come under scrutiny for their entire carbon footprint, we may see more instances where well-intentioned sustainability efforts run into uncomfortable truths. Tinglong Dai, Professor of Operations Management & Business Analytics, Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University; Christopher S. … Continue reading “Lego’s pivot is the beginning of a larger trend toward developing sustainable solutions for entire supply chains in a circular economy” →

Can we learn anything from past energy transitions?

In an article on The Conversation website, Liz Conor, ARC Future Fellow at Australia’s La Trobe University discusses what we can learn from earlier energy transitions as we move to greater renewables. What are your views? Muscle, wood, coal, oil: what earlier energy transitions tell us about renewables In 2022, the burning of fossil … Continue reading Can we learn anything from past energy transitions? →

Energy in Demand News, October 1, 2023

It was encouraging that the heads of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) called on leaders from government, finance and industry across Europe to deliver a clean energy transition that is just, swift and maintains competitiveness. Ministers, ambassadors, business leaders, central bankers and other key … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 1, 2023 →

Forecasts call for an increasing demand for oil even though electric vehicles are growing faster than expected around the world

Robert Brecha, Professor of Sustainability at the University of Dayton questions on The Conversation website why the US is still forecasting oil demand growth, when so many of the indicators lead in the other direction. EV sales growth points to oil demand peaking by 2030 − so why is the oil industry doubling down … Continue reading Forecasts call for an increasing demand for oil even though electric vehicles are growing faster than expected around the world →

British PM and the net zero transition – lessons from history about flip-flopping on the environment

This has been a very interesting week in climate policy in Britain, with the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, defied official advice and rolled back on the net zero timetable. Marc Hudson, Visiting Fellow, Science Policy at the University of Sussex writes on The Conversation website giving us a history lesson on the experience of … Continue reading British PM and the net zero transition – lessons from history about flip-flopping on the environment →

Chasm between climate action and scientific reality laid bare in UN stocktake

The chasm between the climate action being taken and the emissions cuts required is set out bluntly in the new “global stocktake” report from the UN, produced in collaboration with nations. In an article on the Guardian website, Fiona Harvey discusses a major UN report that argues that governments are failing to cut emissions fast … Continue reading Chasm between climate action and scientific reality laid bare in UN stocktake →

Great series of billboards in US calling out oil and gas companies for their role in fueling climate disasters

Fossil Free Media, a non-profit media organization, installed the ads in cities rocked by heatwaves including Phoenix and Austin. Dharna Noor explains in an article on the Guardian website. ‘Brought to you by big oil’: US billboards call out companies for record heatwaves Drive down the highways of Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas; or Fresno, … Continue reading Great series of billboards in US calling out oil and gas companies for their role in fueling climate disasters →

Energy in Demand News, August 27, 2023

In an important development this week, human rights experts from the United Nations have issued a warning to Saudi Aramco and its banks over the company’s enormous contribution to the climate crisis. Saudi Aramco is the biggest oil and gas company in the world and the world’s biggest corporate emitter of greenhouse gases. Their warning … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 27, 2023 →