Europe has an opportunity to leverage AI to optimise its energy systems to ensure a more sustainable approach to using its limited resources

Data centres already consume 2% of the world’s electricity demand. It expects this share to grow to 7% by 2030. In an article on the Euractiv website, Christoph Schwaiger discusses how the European Commission is preparing technical specifications for a study to develop a measurement framework for the energy efficiency of general-purpose AI models. Importantly, … Continue reading Europe has an opportunity to leverage AI to optimise its energy systems to ensure a more sustainable approach to using its limited resources

Cycling can have real impact in our race to zero emissions

According to Christian Brand, Associate Professor in Transport, Energy & Environment, Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford, in an article on The Conversation website, focusing solely on electric vehicles is slowing down the race to zero emissions. In new research, colleagues and I reveal that people who walk or cycle have lower carbon footprints from … Continue reading Cycling can have real impact in our race to zero emissions

Data centres are threatening the very energy transition on which so many governments have staked everything

Irina Slav writes on the OilPrice website about how data centres, particularly since the AI rush began, are turning into an unexpected obstacle that may well compromise the whole transition offensive against hydrocarbons. What are your views?   Data Centers Highlight the Limits of Renewable Energy Scaling Until about a year ago, no one paid … Continue reading Data centres are threatening the very energy transition on which so many governments have staked everything

Energy in Demand News, November 24, 2024

The talks at COP29 ran 33 hours late, and came close to collapse. In the end richer countries pledged a record $300bn to help the developing world fight climate change, but the deal is facing recrimination that it comes nowhere near addressing poorer countries' challenges from global warming. The New York Times (behind a paywall) … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 24, 2024

There is still greenwashing when it comes to carbon offsets

The results of a recent survey raises questions about how some companies use carbon offsets and cast doubt on how effective voluntary carbon markets – at least in their current state – are in assisting a global transition to net-zero-emissions In an article on The Conversation website, Sehoon Kim, Assistant Professor of Finance, University of … Continue reading There is still greenwashing when it comes to carbon offsets

Blog by Steve Thorne: The Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) – what has been learned so far… and where is it heading?

The first-ever United Nations global stock take warned that the world is significantly off track in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement in reaching a maximum of 1.5oC warming by 2050. We need every tool available working at full speed to reduce emissions and secure a liveable future for the planet. A high-integrity voluntary carbon market … Continue reading Blog by Steve Thorne: The Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) – what has been learned so far… and where is it heading?

Introducing “Climate Impact Auctions”

The need to meet global climate goals has never been more pressing. Greenhouse-gas emissions from low- and middle-income countries, which contribute approximately 72 per cent of current global emissions, must decline without inhibiting development. High-income countries have committed to mobilise US$100 billion annually to support climate action in developing countries. In an article on the … Continue reading Introducing “Climate Impact Auctions”

Energy in Demand News, November 17, 2024

It has been quite a first week at COP29. Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, defended Azerbaijan’s current exports of gas and plans to expand production told world leaders gathered in his country for COP29 that natural gas was a “gift from God” and he shouldn’t be blamed for bringing it to market. Kicking off the leaders’ … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 17, 2024

Message to new Trump administration: improving energy efficiency is a cornerstone of a stable, competitive, affordable American economy

We have collectively been holding our breath to find out the impact on our energy and climate policies in American following the election on November 5th. Steven Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) provides us with a strong argument of the importance of continuing with energy efficiency measures. The … Continue reading Message to new Trump administration: improving energy efficiency is a cornerstone of a stable, competitive, affordable American economy

Latest report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative on the status of the world’s ice stores: at a tipping point for irreversible loss and damage

Over 50 leading cryosphere scientists released their annual report on the status of the world’s ice stores this week at COP29 in Baku, warning of vastly higher impacts and costs to the global economy given accelerating losses in the world’s cryosphere (snow and ice regions). The State of the Cryosphere Report 2024, coordinated by the … Continue reading Latest report from the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative on the status of the world’s ice stores: at a tipping point for irreversible loss and damage