Europe’s construction ecosystem employs approximately 24.9 million people but it is also extremely fragmented with 99.9% of the companies being SMEs. Nikolaus J. Kurmayer discusses on the EURACTIV website the plans of the European Commission to transform the sector and that digitalisation could be the silver bullet to address all the problems – lack of … Continue reading The European Commission has outlined possible “transition pathways” to address the environmental impact of the construction sector
Category: industry
Maritime industry’s energy transition must be “just” and “equitable”
The International Maritime Organisation uses the terms “just” and “equitable” in discussions around shipping’s energy transition. But there is currently no consensus over how to define these terms. Christiaan De Beukelaer, Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study, Durham University and Senior Lecturer in Culture & Climate at The University of Melbourne discusses latest … Continue reading Maritime industry’s energy transition must be “just” and “equitable”
How industry can improve energy efficiency in a hurry
Industry is the world’s largest consumer of electricity, natural gas and coal, and accounts for 42 percent of electricity demand. Now, experts say improving industrial energy efficiency is the fastest and most effective way for a business to cut energy costs and emissions. Ten ways to improve energy efficiency are described in an article on … Continue reading How industry can improve energy efficiency in a hurry
French food group Danone sets up global energy programme
Danone SA executives expect a global energy programme announced Nov. 17 to improve energy efficiency by 35% by 2025 and to reduce the company’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by a minimum of 42% by 2030. Through the programme, Danone also plans to increase its use of renewable energy and have 100% of its … Continue reading French food group Danone sets up global energy programme
Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels
Chris Brown writes on the CBC News website about the pressure that the shipping industry is under, given that all sectors of the economy are having to find an appropriate path to net-zero emissions. Importantly, one company, Copenhagen-based Maersk, until recently the world's No. 1 container shipper over the past 25 years, has set one … Continue reading Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels
France’s largest bank under pressure to stop financing the development of fossil fuels
NGOs which previously took the French government to court have taken steps towards a lawsuit against the bank, the world's leading financer of oil and gas majors. Stéphane Mandard discusses latest developments in an article on the English section of the Le Monde website. BNP Paribas warned to stop financing fossil fuels and 'climate … Continue reading France’s largest bank under pressure to stop financing the development of fossil fuels
Solar panels can be made better and cheaper
Renate Egan, Professor, Australian Centre of Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW Sydney writes on The Conversation website about Australian research underway to cut costs even further and generate the most electricity possible out of incoming sunlight. What are your views? You might think solar panels have been perfected – but we can still make them … Continue reading Solar panels can be made better and cheaper
Opportunities to get EU industry off natural gas quickly
As Europe hunts for speedy ways to do without Russian energy amid the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, some industries are charting the path ahead with successful switches from natural gas to electricity. Manufacturing fuelled by power instead of gas is emerging in sectors such as food and chemicals and in countries including Belgium, Denmark, and Germany. The … Continue reading Opportunities to get EU industry off natural gas quickly
Insurance companies also wield enormous power over the energy transition
Insurers are paying more for extreme weather while continuing to finance and underwrite activities that warp the climate. They can block or enable fossil fuel projects by choosing whether to insure them and for what price. Speeding up the switch to green energy would cut their exposure to catastrophic weather. Climate activists are pushing them … Continue reading Insurance companies also wield enormous power over the energy transition
New EEA briefings on sustainability of agriculture and food systems
A profound rethink of how we produce food and operate global food chains and related industrial processing sectors is needed to make them resilient and sustainable. Much more must be done to reduce their GHG emissions as well as their pressures on water resources and biodiversity — efforts which are currently almost stagnant — according … Continue reading New EEA briefings on sustainability of agriculture and food systems
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 