New EEA report on progress towards greater sustainability of Europe’s maritime sector

Europe’s maritime sector is making progress towards greater sustainability but will need to increase its efforts over the coming years to meet EU climate and environment goals aimed at reducing energy use, pollution, and GHG emissions as well as better protecting biodiversity. That is according to the second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environmental … Continue reading New EEA report on progress towards greater sustainability of Europe’s maritime sector →

Energy in Demand News, February 2, 2025

Who would have guessed? Norway’s coalition government has collapsed because of the EU’s energy efficiency directive, energy performance of buildings directive and renewable energy directive! The Eurosceptic junior coalition partner quit after the Prime Minister pushed to implement the energy directives. Norway (which is not a member of the European Union) adopts most of the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 2, 2025 →

Worries of backtracking of EU’s green agenda

There is another post this weekend on the EC’s Competitive Compass. Marianne Gros wrote on the Politico website earlier in the week and this is good background for EiD readers. Brussels hopes simplifying green compliance rules will boost Europe’s flagging economy. Green groups fear something more sinister. Von der Leyen builds bonfire of EU’s … Continue reading Worries of backtracking of EU’s green agenda →

It’s not clear that Heathrow Airport expansion can fit within the UK’s legal and arguably moral requirement to cut emissions and remain within its carbon budget

Richard Sulley, Senior Research Fellow, Sustainability Policy, University of Sheffield writes on The Conversation website about the impact of expanding the UK’s largest airport on government commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Since this was published, the UK government has given the green light to the construction of the third runway at Heathrow with considerable mixed … Continue reading It’s not clear that Heathrow Airport expansion can fit within the UK’s legal and arguably moral requirement to cut emissions and remain within its carbon budget →

Energy consumption is only one part of AI’s broader environmental impact

In an article on The Conversation website, Hamish van der Ven, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Business Management of Natural Resources, University of British Columbia, argues that social and political mediums through which AI affects the planet are far more insidious and, arguably, more consequential for the future of humanity. AI is bad for the … Continue reading Energy consumption is only one part of AI’s broader environmental impact →

Energy in Demand News, January 26, 2025

Apart from watching what is going on in Washington DC , our attention has understandably focused again this week on the devastation in the Los Angeles area from the continuing wildfires. The total area affected was recently estimated at more than 16,000 hectares and it is going to take years and a lot of money … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 26, 2025 →

Energy in Demand News, January 19, 2025

It was welcome news this week from the Coalition for Energy Savings that, according to latest Eurostat data, there was a sharp drop of the EU's primary and final energy consumption in 2023. Compared to 2022, primary energy consumption dropped by 3.9% and final energy consumption lowered by 3%. This is the largest decline since … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 19, 2025 →

“We need urgent action to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to renewable and low-carbon energy as well as the rapid rollout of technologies that improve energy efficiency”

In an article for the World Economic Forum annual meeting, Morten Wierod, CEO at ABB, the Swedish-Swiss multinational electrical engineering corporation, gives a strong argument for the importance of energy efficiency. Why electrification and efficiency are the two keys to hitting net zero An urgent challenge of the energy transition is integrating renewable energy … Continue reading “We need urgent action to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to renewable and low-carbon energy as well as the rapid rollout of technologies that improve energy efficiency” →

The environmental benefits from the world’s tallest bridge in France shows how transport infrastructure policy can have a direct impact on decarbonisation

In an article on The Conversation website, Florimond Gueniat, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Birmingham City University discusses the environmental benefits of the Millau Viaduct in the south of France. How the world’s tallest bridge saves thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions Measured from ground level to the top of its highest tower, the … Continue reading The environmental benefits from the world’s tallest bridge in France shows how transport infrastructure policy can have a direct impact on decarbonisation →

Energy in Demand News, January 12, 2025

The devastation from the wildfires in the Los Angeles area is a human tragedy beyond belief. It only adds to those who are suffering globally from droughts, floods and other climate-related disasters. An article on the Financial Times (behind a paywall) counts the cost from catastrophes in 2024. “Hurricanes, fires and other disasters caused $320bn … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 12, 2025 →