World’s publicly financed development banks pledge to use their financial muscle to rescue the global economy from the Covid-19 crisis and the climate emergency

The goal must be to build economies that are sustainable, resilient and inclusive says one head of a development bank. Encouragingly, we are seeing development banks take a more co-ordinated, integrated approach to address recovery plans and the need to ensure the Paris climate objectives are met.  Fiona Harvey explains in an article on The … Continue reading World’s publicly financed development banks pledge to use their financial muscle to rescue the global economy from the Covid-19 crisis and the climate emergency →

Changing some of our energy use routines due to the pandemic really can have significant benefits for ourselves and the planet

Philipp Grünewald, EPSRC Fellow, Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford writes on The Conversation website about learning from the first lockdown to provide us with important lessons as we cope with the current pandemic.   Four energy-saving lessons from the first lockdown which may help us through the winter The gold standard … Continue reading Changing some of our energy use routines due to the pandemic really can have significant benefits for ourselves and the planet →

Shift to construction with wood could lead to a cleaner, greener future

Harry Cockburn writes on The Independent website that there are many environmental benefits from using wood as the construction material of choice, according to researchers at Aalto University in Finland, and the Finnish Environment Institute.   Cities made of wood 'could store huge amounts of carbon and cut construction emissions' The construction material of choice … Continue reading Shift to construction with wood could lead to a cleaner, greener future →

By shifting current policies and fundamental program designs, next-generation energy efficiency programmes can be a crucial tool for meeting deep carbon-reduction goals

Val Jensen writes on the Greentech media website about the need to revamp energy efficiency programmes to meet long-term energy and climate objectives. While he speaks about the United States, there are no doubt lessons for all of us.   Revamped Energy Efficiency Programs Are the Key to Deep Carbon Reductions Across the U.S., governments … Continue reading By shifting current policies and fundamental program designs, next-generation energy efficiency programmes can be a crucial tool for meeting deep carbon-reduction goals →

Targets for emissions cuts released by Chinese government this week

China will use energy more efficiently over the next five years and expects its carbon emissions to be on a steady decline by 2035 at the latest, according to a roadmap for the country's development released after top-level political meetings this week. Kevin Foster explains latest developments on the Argus website.   China lays out … Continue reading Targets for emissions cuts released by Chinese government this week →

New project aims to utilise cutting-edge wind propulsion technology to bring down the vast carbon emissions of commercial shipping

A maritime design specialist spun out of Sir Ben Ainslie’s yacht racing team (remember Ben won medals at five consecutive Olympics) will install solid 45-metre sails on cargo vessels with the aim of cutting emissions. Callum Jones discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website.   Wind in the sails of emissions challenge … Continue reading New project aims to utilise cutting-edge wind propulsion technology to bring down the vast carbon emissions of commercial shipping →

To reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible not all low-carbon energy sources are equally useful

Simone Abram, Alton Horsfall and Andrew Crossland from Durham University write on The Conversation website  argue that only talking about decarbonisation obscures the inherent choice between energy pathways. What are your views?   'Decarbonisation' may be the wrong goal for energy – here's why Electricity generated by nuclear power plants, wind turbines and solar panels … Continue reading To reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible not all low-carbon energy sources are equally useful →

Climate campaigners accuse shipping industry of “trying to run away from regulation”

Madeleine Cuff writes on the inews website about the supposed lack of ambition in the policy under preparation to reduce GHG emissions.   Climate curbs on high-polluting ships face '10 years of delay' from shipping industry If shipping were a country, it would be the sixth-largest polluter on the planet. But weak regulations could see … Continue reading Climate campaigners accuse shipping industry of “trying to run away from regulation” →

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 →

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 →