Corporate lobbying at COP29

Friday the Guardian reported that there were over 1,700 coal, oil and gas lobbyists granted access to Cop29. It is timely that Christina Toenshoff, Assistant Professor of European Politics and Political Economy, Leiden University has written on The Conversation website for us to better understand what this lobbying is about.   Thousands of corporate lobbyists … Continue reading Corporate lobbying at COP29

Although many countries have explicitly promised to reduce fossil fuel subsidies to combat climate change, this has proven difficult to accomplish

Bruce Huber, Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame writes on The Conversation website about how difficult it is turning out to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.   Countries spend huge sums on fossil fuel subsidies – why they’re so hard to eliminate Fossil fuels are the leading driver of climate change, yet … Continue reading Although many countries have explicitly promised to reduce fossil fuel subsidies to combat climate change, this has proven difficult to accomplish

Energy in Demand News, November 10, 2024

The IEA’s Energy Efficiency 2024 report was published this week, just before COP29. Energy intensity improvements have decreased in the past year, even though nearly 200 countries agreed at COP28 to the goal of doubling the rate of progress, which would mean increasing intensity from 2% in 2022 to 4% by 2030. Yet, the IEA … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 10, 2024

Initial views on new Trump administration’s impact on climate policies

In an article on The Conversation website, Gautam Jain, Senior Research Scholar in Financing the Energy Transition, Columbia University discusses the impact on climate policy of the incoming Trump administration.   What Trump can do to reverse US climate policy − and what he probably can’t change As the U.S. prepares for another Trump administration, … Continue reading Initial views on new Trump administration’s impact on climate policies

New IN-PLAN Practice to empower local and regional authorities to revolutionise their sustainable energy, climate, and spatial planning

The IN-PLAN project team this week has launched IN-PLAN Practice, an innovative and long-lasting support structure designed to assist local and regional authorities across Europe in effectively implementing their sustainable energy, climate, and spatial plans. Developed as part of a collaborative effort co-funded by the LIFE programme of the European Union, the IN-PLAN Practice aims … Continue reading New IN-PLAN Practice to empower local and regional authorities to revolutionise their sustainable energy, climate, and spatial planning

Energy in Demand, November 3, 2024

A piece of good news about electric vehicles. In Florida, EVs exhibited an unexpected side benefit during Hurricane Milton, according to Energy Changemakers (behind a paywall). Before Milton made landfall on October 9, Florida resident Paul Fosse reported in CleanTechnica  that public charging stations were readily available to EV drivers in the days preceding Milton, even … Continue reading Energy in Demand, November 3, 2024

High school students in US gain big win in pushing for fossil fuel divestment in private high schools

Aliya Uteuova and Dharna Noor write on the Guardian website about  how a high school in California has decided not to invest in coal, oil or gas, instead pledging to put money into clean energy. It’s the latest win in a new fossil fuel divestment campus campaign launched by high schoolers across 11 countries that … Continue reading High school students in US gain big win in pushing for fossil fuel divestment in private high schools

New EEA report showing in 2023 that EU total net GHG emissions decreased to 37% below 1990 levels according to preliminary figures

Total net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union dropped by 8% last year, marking significant progress towards climate neutrality for the EU. The huge drop was led by a significant decline in coal use and growth of renewable energy sources and supported by reduced energy consumption across Europe, according to estimated figures included in … Continue reading New EEA report showing in 2023 that EU total net GHG emissions decreased to 37% below 1990 levels according to preliminary figures

Energy in Demand News, October 27, 2024

The annual UNEP Emissions Gap Report (EGR), published this week ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP), highlights that without accelerated global action, the world is on track for temperature increases between 2.6°C and 3.1°C by the end of the century. Even the best-case scenario of 2.6°C will bring severe consequences for people, the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 27, 2024

Battery storage equivalent to the output of 20 nuclear reactors has been bolted on to America’s electric grids in barely four years

Oliver Milman writes on the Guardian website how the pace of growth in battery storage helps maintain renewable energy when weather conditions interfere with wind and solar. What is the situation in your country?   US power grid added battery equivalent of 20 nuclear reactors in past four years Faced with worsening climate-driven disasters and … Continue reading Battery storage equivalent to the output of 20 nuclear reactors has been bolted on to America’s electric grids in barely four years