While there have been improvements under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, countries’ promises to date will still mean dangerous heat, severe health impacts, and widening inequality for future generations

Mitchell Beer writes on the Energy Mix website about a new report released this week, if countries all keep their promises to date under the Paris accord, their actions will reduce average global warming this century from 4.0 to 2.6°C. We’ve got big challenges and countries have to take this much more seriously. Paris … Continue reading While there have been improvements under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, countries’ promises to date will still mean dangerous heat, severe health impacts, and widening inequality for future generations →

“Compared to what would be required for a path that keeps to the goals of the Paris Agreement, they’re largely insufficient”

Naveena Sadasivam writes on the National Observer website about the lagging ambition to meet the Paris climate objectives. How do we turn that around? A decade after the Paris Agreement, countries still miss their deadlines When the 2015 Paris Agreement was inked nearly a decade ago, it marked a consensus, agreed to by nearly … Continue reading “Compared to what would be required for a path that keeps to the goals of the Paris Agreement, they’re largely insufficient” →

Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025

It was certainly disappointing that the UN negotiations for a global treaty on plastics pollution collapsed without an agreement. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and a number of other petrostates would not budge from their long-standing refusal to agree measures that address the production of plastic, agreeing only to waste management. It is not clear when negotiations … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025 →

Progress towards a legally binding global treaty on plastics pollution stalled and went into reverse this week

In an article on The Conversation website, Melanie MacGregor, ARC Future Fellow and Matthew Flinders Fellow in Chemistry, Flinders University gives her views on what happened in Geneva the last two weeks. The global plastics treaty process has fallen flat. Here’s what went wrong, and how you can help Progress towards a legally binding … Continue reading Progress towards a legally binding global treaty on plastics pollution stalled and went into reverse this week →

Energy in Demand News, August 10-11, 2025

GHG emissions are “going through the roof” because of AI, according to an article on the New York Times website that explains how Big Tech’s net-zero goals are looking shaky. “Google’s greenhouse gas emissions rose by 11 percent in 2024 from the year before. Amazon’s were up by 6 percent. Microsoft’s fell slightly but remained … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 10-11, 2025 →

With the US leaving the global stage in addressing climate change, there are signs that a new set of leaders is rising to the occasion

In an article on The Conversation website, Shannon Gibson, Professor of Environmental Studies, Political Science and International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences writes about who will step into the leadership vacuum now that the US has walked away again. US government may be abandoning the global climate fight, but new … Continue reading With the US leaving the global stage in addressing climate change, there are signs that a new set of leaders is rising to the occasion →

The Science Based Targets initiative says that, to be 1.5C-aligned, financial institutions must stop funding firms that are expanding fossil fuel production and use

This week, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) launched a net zero standard for banks, asset managers and insurance companies, which requires them to end financing for firms that are expanding coal projects immediately and for those expanding oil and gas projects by 2030. In an article on the Climate Home News website, Joe Lo … Continue reading The Science Based Targets initiative says that, to be 1.5C-aligned, financial institutions must stop funding firms that are expanding fossil fuel production and use →

New EEA report on Europe’s land carbon sinks

Europe’s forests and land are absorbing less carbon than expected, putting the 2030 target for the sector at risk. But with the right policies and measures, the land use and forestry sector could still play a crucial role in climate mitigation, with significant co-benefits for people and nature, according to a new European Environment Agency … Continue reading New EEA report on Europe’s land carbon sinks →

Canada had some good words to say at COP29 but its actions don’t back them up

Bruce Campbell writes on the Policy Alternatives about Canada at the Baku summit. While it takes a positive attitude to the COP process, it has to be admitted that Canada is the world’s the fourth largest oil producing country and sixth largest producer of natural gas. It also had many lobbyists there representing the tar … Continue reading Canada had some good words to say at COP29 but its actions don’t back them up →

Reflecting on Baku

Fiona Harvey, environmental editor of the Guardian, discusses some of the major issues that arose at COP29 in Baku. Fiona should know. She has attended 18 of the COPs. As she said, the Baku COP29 talks were marked by division and self-interest, with rancorous meddling right until the end. If you attended, what are your … Continue reading Reflecting on Baku →