Blog by Jane Marsh – Battery Cities: the next step in sustainable urban development

Situated in the heart of lower Manhattan, Battery Park City (BPC) is a testament to the possibilities of a future brimming with vibrant, environmentally conscious communities. Could this transformative development inspire a global shift toward sustainable living and shape the urban spaces of tomorrow? The Makings of a Battery-Style City BPC is a shining example … Continue reading Blog by Jane Marsh – Battery Cities: the next step in sustainable urban development

Europe’s biggest and greenest electric battery factory is having a bumpy period but there’s a strong industrial will for Sweden to remain a green tech role model

In an article on the BBC News website, Maddy Savage writes about the impact of the financial problems of Northvolt, Sweden’s battery developer and manufacturer, founded in 2015 by two former Tesla executives, filed for Chapter 11 reorganisation on November 21, 2024.   Sweden's green industry hopes hit by Northvolt woes Heavy snow blends into … Continue reading Europe’s biggest and greenest electric battery factory is having a bumpy period but there’s a strong industrial will for Sweden to remain a green tech role model

New EEA briefing on the benefits of investing in clean technology and a green industry in Europe

Europe has committed to ambitious sustainability targets in the coming decades, including achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This transition requires large investments while public budgets are under increasing pressure from security needs, inflation, ageing population, and other priorities. Published this week, a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis looks at this challenge and identifies investments in … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the benefits of investing in clean technology and a green industry in Europe

The new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: “We do not want to be crushed and knocked out” by burdensome regulations, say French SMEs

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive would extend the scope of companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting obligations to inform investors, banks and insurance companies better. The new rules would also apply to SMEs. In an article on the EURACTIV website, Théo Bourgery-Gons discusses how French SMEs argue that new regulations are so onerous that … Continue reading The new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: “We do not want to be crushed and knocked out” by burdensome regulations, say French SMEs

7 out of 10 climate experts sceptical of green growth

In an article on The Conversation website, Ivan Savin, Associate professor of business analytics, research fellow at ICTA-UAB, ESCP Business School and Lewis King, Postdoctoral research fellow in Ecological economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona discuss their survey of nearly 800 climate policy researchers from around the world. What are your views of the survey results? … Continue reading 7 out of 10 climate experts sceptical of green growth

Trees, trees and yet more trees can help make Europe’s cities more comfortable

Jon Henley writes on The Guardian website about the importance of trees in urban settings. Sadly, many EU cities are less green than they were a century ago.   ‘We need trees’: green vision struggles to take root in Europe’s cities From Madrid to Berlin and Paris to Budapest, scientists and planners agree, trees, trees … Continue reading Trees, trees and yet more trees can help make Europe’s cities more comfortable

Irish government defends plans to promote energy efficiency in response to spiralling cost of living pressures

In contrast to the measures announced by the UK government this week, the Irish prime minister (known as the Taoiseach) defended plans to promote energy efficiency and demand restraint including taking shorter showers and driving less, as part of an overall response to spiralling cost of living pressures. Mark Hilliard and Vivienne Clarke discuss latest … Continue reading Irish government defends plans to promote energy efficiency in response to spiralling cost of living pressures

European Green Deal: New proposals to make sustainable products the norm and boost Europe’s resource independence

This week the Commission presented a package of European Green Deal proposals to make sustainable products the norm in the EU, boost circular business models and empower consumers for the green transition. As announced in the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Commission is proposing new rules to make almost all physical goods on the EU market more friendly to the environment, circular, and … Continue reading European Green Deal: New proposals to make sustainable products the norm and boost Europe’s resource independence

New EEA analysis of economic losses and fatalities from weather and climate-related events

Extreme weather events like storms, heatwaves and flooding accounted for economic losses of around half a trillion euros over the past 40 years and led to between 85 000 and 145 000 human fatalities across Europe. Less than one-third of these losses were insured, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis of economic losses … Continue reading New EEA analysis of economic losses and fatalities from weather and climate-related events

New report’s findings support argument that green assets have a lower risk than non-green assets

Elena Johansson writes on the Expert Investor Europe website about a report from an EU-funded project found a significant negative correlation between buildings’ energy efficiency and the probability of mortgage defaults and supports the argument that green assets have a lower risk than non-green assets.   Evidence fuels argument to create ‘green supporting factor’ A … Continue reading New report’s findings support argument that green assets have a lower risk than non-green assets