New briefing on the revised Energy Efficiency Directive

The Coalition for Energy Savings has recently published a briefing that explains the key EED provisions agreed. The ‘Fit for 55 package’ and the REPowerEU plan proposed to upgrade the current Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) to align it with the higher 2030 climate objective and speed up the phase-out of fossil fuel imports from Russia. … Continue reading New briefing on the revised Energy Efficiency Directive →

New EEA official data on 2021 GHG gas emissions published

Official data, published this week by the European Environment Agency (EEA), confirm that the economic recovery in 2021 increased the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions but their level remained lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the EU has reduced its emissions by 30% since 1990. Economic recovery pushed EU emissions up in 2021 but … Continue reading New EEA official data on 2021 GHG gas emissions published →

New IEA analysis on energy efficiency

Using energy more efficiently has proven to be an extremely successful and cost-effective way to reduce energy demand. Highly developed and well proven policy instruments already exist to deliver increased energy efficiency, such as Ecodesign in Europe and Japan’s Top Runner. These policy tools can also support fuel switching and better demand management, helping to … Continue reading New IEA analysis on energy efficiency →

Report details mistakes and lessons to be learned from the past 30 years of France’s energy system

A recent Parliamentary report in France highlighted “the reasons for the loss of sovereignty and energy independence of France”. Le Monde introduced it as “the damning report on France's energy choices, and its loss of sovereignty: "A political rambling that has taken us away from the ecological transition."” Paul Messad discusses the report in an … Continue reading Report details mistakes and lessons to be learned from the past 30 years of France’s energy system →

European aviation industry claims bill of €‎800bn to reach net zero emissions

European aviation faces more than €‎800bn in extra costs to reach net zero emissions by 2050 to limit climate change, according to industry estimates that highlight the challenge facing the sector as it decarbonises. In this new study, SEO Amsterdam Economics (SEO) and Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) calculate the expenditures necessary to achieve net … Continue reading European aviation industry claims bill of €‎800bn to reach net zero emissions →

Companies increasing fossil fuel production are contradicting goals to stop the planet heating according to head of IEA

International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol tells Ajit Niranjan of Deutsche Welle that existing oil fields, gas wells and coal mines are "more than enough" if the world is serious about its climate goals. IEA chief slams climate 'contradictions' from oil companies The head of the powerful International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based … Continue reading Companies increasing fossil fuel production are contradicting goals to stop the planet heating according to head of IEA →

We need “no-regrets solutions” to address the climate transition

Decarbonising industry will be require to change equipment but also promote technical progress in clean alternatives while encouraging citizens and companies to reduce their consumption. Philippe Escande discusses the challenges in a column on the Le Monde website. 'The climate transition is a transformation similar in magnitude to past industrial revolutions' The ArcelorMittal steel … Continue reading We need “no-regrets solutions” to address the climate transition →

The world’s existing fleet of coal-fired plants grew by 19.5GW last year, of which more than half was commissioned in China

The world needs to stop building new plants and close existing ones at almost five times the current rate to meet Paris agreement goals. In order to meet the Paris climate agreement, all coal-fired plants need to be closed by 2040 and no new ones can come online but such is not the case at … Continue reading The world’s existing fleet of coal-fired plants grew by 19.5GW last year, of which more than half was commissioned in China →

Owners of the 140 distilleries in Scotland have pledged, voluntarily, to transform the industry and make their operations “net-zero”

Making Scotch whisky can be a dirty business — an energy-intensive, carbon-spewing, peat-burning industry, mostly owned by multinational conglomerates that ship their $50-plus bottles to swells around the world. William Booth writes on the Washington Post website about how the industry in Scotland has committed to reach “net zero.” In Scotland, making whisky with … Continue reading Owners of the 140 distilleries in Scotland have pledged, voluntarily, to transform the industry and make their operations “net-zero” →

Britain’s energy transition: looking at its building stock, the challenges are daunting to meet the net-zero target

Thursday, March 30th, the UK government announced its net-zero strategy and you can get the main elements of it here in an article on the Guardian website. Jillian Ambrose wrote a very important background article on Monday on the Guardian website, focusing on the negligible progress made in improving the energy efficiency of its building … Continue reading Britain’s energy transition: looking at its building stock, the challenges are daunting to meet the net-zero target →