New IEA energy efficiency report: Global energy efficiency progress is recovering – but not quickly enough

Energy Efficiency 2021 is the IEA’s annual update on global developments in energy efficiency. This year’s edition explores recent trends in energy efficiency markets at the economy-wide and sectoral levels, including developments in policy and investment. The report also focuses on the role of energy efficiency in achieving net zero emissions in the energy sector … Continue reading New IEA energy efficiency report: Global energy efficiency progress is recovering – but not quickly enough →

There is little chance of the aviation industry meeting any climate targets if it aims for a return to its pre-pandemic rate of growth

Just before the pandemic, aircraft engines were burning one billion litres of fuel a day. But then the number of daily civil aviation flights fell from 110,000 to less than 50,000 during 2020, on average. With the easing of travel restrictions, air traffic is increasing back towards its pre-pandemic peak. Milan Klöwer, Postdoctoral Researcher in … Continue reading There is little chance of the aviation industry meeting any climate targets if it aims for a return to its pre-pandemic rate of growth →

Governments around the world are struggling with ithe immense contribution their militaries are making to the climate crisis

To get a sense of the problem, a recent study showed that if the US military were a country, its fuel usage alone would make it the 47th largest emitter of GHGs in the world. Despite the outsized role of militaries, we know surprisingly little about their emissions. Doug Weir, Research and Policy Director at … Continue reading Governments around the world are struggling with ithe immense contribution their militaries are making to the climate crisis →

Blog from Peter Sweatman: And how much of the $100 trillion is earmarked for energy efficiency, Mark?

On November 3rd, during the first week of COP26, Mark Carney, the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, announced that 450 financial organisations from 45 countries pledged to deliver the estimated $100 trillion of finance needed for net zero over the next three decades. This is the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero … Continue reading Blog from Peter Sweatman: And how much of the $100 trillion is earmarked for energy efficiency, Mark? →

How climate change affects Inuit and other Indigenous communities, and why greater inclusion of Indigenous voices is vital in aiding the climate crisis

Having attended many climate conferences in the past where there were many side-events by indigenous communities explaining how climate change was drastically affecting their societies and livelihoods, it brings home how vulnerable so many people are. In many cases, adaptation is not even an option. Cloe Logan interviews Ashley Cummings, a 23-year-old Inuk activist from … Continue reading How climate change affects Inuit and other Indigenous communities, and why greater inclusion of Indigenous voices is vital in aiding the climate crisis →

Strong message to give priority to reducing energy consumption

Martin Rossen, former Chief of staff at the Danish Prime Minister’s Office and now Senior Vice President, Head of Global Communication and Sustainability at Danfoss A/S provides a strong argument on the Politics.co.uk website that decision makers somehow forgot that the greenest energy is the energy we don’t use. He argues that energy efficiency is … Continue reading Strong message to give priority to reducing energy consumption →

New EEA report shows EU achieved its three 2020 climate and energy targets

While we are focusing on our 2030 and 2050 objectives, it is important to take stock of how well we have done so far. The European Union (EU) achieved its three main climate and energy targets by 2020, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment, published this week. The 2030 target of a … Continue reading New EEA report shows EU achieved its three 2020 climate and energy targets →

World leaders need a more complete picture of the complexity before embarking on the construction of a global carbon removal industry

Johanna Forster, Lecturer in Environment and International Development at the University of East Anglia and Naomi Vaughan, Senior Lecturer in Climate Change at the University of East Anglia, in an article on The Conversation website, discuss the problems that need to be overcome if there is to be a global carbon removal industry. A … Continue reading World leaders need a more complete picture of the complexity before embarking on the construction of a global carbon removal industry →

A new ranking of the planet’s largest polluters has Canada in the top 10 for total emissions

As we prepare for COP26 starting in the next few weeks, it is important to get a grasp on some of the countries that really need to increase their efforts to reach net zero. John Woodside writes on the National Observer website that on a per capita basis, depending how one counts it, Canada is … Continue reading A new ranking of the planet’s largest polluters has Canada in the top 10 for total emissions →

China’s energy crisis and what it means for our global long-term climate goals

Jun Du, Professor of Economics, Centre Director of Centre for Business Prosperity (CBP) at Aston University in an article on The Conversation website discusses latest developments in China to expand the use of coal as it copes with recent energy problems. Even with these issues, China is committed to decarbonisation. Professor Jun Du concludes: “The … Continue reading China’s energy crisis and what it means for our global long-term climate goals →