Energy in Demand News, September 10, 2023

This weekend’s G20 Summit in New Delhi has the theme “One Earth · One Family · One Future” (drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad) which is quite fitting, given the range of topics being covered. There have been discussions regarding strategies to tackle the challenges presented by climate change. Developing nations … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, September 10, 2023 →

The world’s poorest countries, mostly in Africa, are effectively priced out of the clean energy action by a global lending system that considers them too risky for investment

Max Bearak writes on the New York Times website about the lack of access to needed financing. A big obstacle is the lack of loans, a subject of intense disagreement between richer and poorer countries. But in Congo, where Mr. Bearak is writing from, a hard-fought solar investment shows a possible path forward. Clean … Continue reading The world’s poorest countries, mostly in Africa, are effectively priced out of the clean energy action by a global lending system that considers them too risky for investment →

No banks disclosed the share of total finance directed towards climate solutions in the last year, according to analysis by the TPI Centre

Only 6 of 26 banks have disclosed a commitment to end all on- and off-balance sheet activities that finance new coal capacity immediately. Only one of the banks’ net zero emissions commitments covers on and off-balance sheets activities. Five banks have publicly disclosed the quantitative results of climate scenario analysis to their shareholders and clients. … Continue reading No banks disclosed the share of total finance directed towards climate solutions in the last year, according to analysis by the TPI Centre →

One of the issues with ESG is how difficult it is for investors, consumers and the public to assess how effectively companies have implemented it

In an article on the Conversation website, Daniel Tsai, Lecturer in Business and Law at the University of Toronto and Peer Zumbansen, Professor of Business Law at McGill University discuss the need for changes to how ESG is implemented. The lack of government leadership and the fragmentation of the ESG landscape has created uncertainty about … Continue reading One of the issues with ESG is how difficult it is for investors, consumers and the public to assess how effectively companies have implemented it →

Africa climate summit adopts ‘Nairobi declaration’

The first ever Africa Climate Summit ended on Wednesday with a call for world leaders to back global taxes to fund climate action. The "Nairobi declaration" also calls for financial reforms to help African countries. The text is intended to define the shared position of the 54 countries of the African continent ahead of the … Continue reading Africa climate summit adopts ‘Nairobi declaration’ →

Energy in Demand News, September 3, 2023

US climate envoy John Kerry is calling on the leaders of global oil and gas companies to bring concrete plans to boost renewable energy and cut GHG emissions by 2030 to COP28. UN conference president Sultan Al Jaber is also head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and many climate experts and activists are … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, September 3, 2023 →

Africa’s climate security needs to be prioritised at COP28

Climate change has been exacerbating tensions across Africa. Maurizio Geri, a former NATO analyst on the Middle East and North Africa, writes on the EURACTIV website that the continent’s climate security ought to be prioritised at COP28 so that the rise of militarism can be countered. West must use COP28 to reverse climate neglect … Continue reading Africa’s climate security needs to be prioritised at COP28 →

“Bangladesh has been quite well in adapting to climate change, but there is still a long way to go with not much time to waste”

Dr Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development and a professor at Independent University in Bangladesh and one of the most vocal and effective experts on adaptation, writes on the Daily Star website of the need to scale up as soon as possible. This is a message not only for … Continue reading “Bangladesh has been quite well in adapting to climate change, but there is still a long way to go with not much time to waste” →

UK candidate Jim Skea elected as new leader of IPCC

British professor, Jim Skea, was elected chair of UN’s expert panel, which warned in March that 1.5C threshold could be hit in 10 years. Importantly he recently said, “The challenges are huge, but the key thing is to not become paralysed into inaction by a sense of despair.” His new appointment is discussed in a … Continue reading UK candidate Jim Skea elected as new leader of IPCC →

Energy ministers failed to agree on phasing down fossil fuels and setting ambitious renewable energy targets at recent G20 meeting

The world’s largest economies failed to agree on targets to phase down fossil fuels and scale up renewables. What sort of impact will this have on upcoming COP28 later this year? Matteo Civillini and Reuters discuss latest developments in an article on the Climate Change News website. G20 divisions over key climate goals pile … Continue reading Energy ministers failed to agree on phasing down fossil fuels and setting ambitious renewable energy targets at recent G20 meeting →