Modernisation of Energy Charter Treaty seen as “a real threat” to the landmark Paris climate agreement

The members of the Energy Charter Treaty on Friday struck a deal to “modernise” the energy charter treaty. The 1994 agreement allows investors to sue governments for changes in energy policy that harm their profits. The compromise agreement, which was largely designed by the EU, reduces the protection afforded to companies that have invested in … Continue reading Modernisation of Energy Charter Treaty seen as “a real threat” to the landmark Paris climate agreement →

Recent research shows that the backfire strategies of the economic elites has had an impact over the past 50 years, leaving our environment in a perilous state

The reduction of the weight of fossil fuels and their harmful effects on the climate has been on the international political agenda since 1972, underlines historian Christophe Bonneuil, in an op-ed in 'Le Monde.' 'What has happened in the last 50 years that, despite hundreds of summits, conferences, treaties and conventions, global disruption continues … Continue reading Recent research shows that the backfire strategies of the economic elites has had an impact over the past 50 years, leaving our environment in a perilous state →

Clean energy funding to surge 12% in 2022, remains insufficient

Global energy investment is set to increase by 8% this year, the energy forum has estimated. Dimitris Mavrokefalidis discusses the IEA report on the Energy Live News website. The report is available here. IEA: “Capital spending is insufficient to tackle the energy and climate crises” The current level of global capital spending is still … Continue reading Clean energy funding to surge 12% in 2022, remains insufficient →

What is next for climate activism?

With less than 10 years left to avert climate catastrophe, climate campaigners Kumi Naidoo and Luisa Neubauer say activists need to ramp up civil disobedience. They discuss their views in article by Jennifer Collins on the Deutsche Welle website. Activists say they must up the ante as world edges closer to climate disaster Kumi … Continue reading What is next for climate activism? →

The UN sustainable development goals have infiltrated the things people say, think and write about global sustainability challenges but nothing has changed where it matters

Sixty-two academics analysed more than 3,000 academic studies that scrutinised aspects of the SDGs. Unfortunately, their findings were “disheartening”. One of the authors, Frank Biermann, Professor of Global Sustainability Governance at Utrecht University discusses their findings in an article on The Conversation website. UN sustainable development goals failing to have meaningful impact, our research … Continue reading The UN sustainable development goals have infiltrated the things people say, think and write about global sustainability challenges but nothing has changed where it matters →

“The energy transition is not happening” writes REN21

Fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy sector by a wide margin, despite the unprecedented increase in wind and solar energy generation capacity. Perrine Mouterde writes on the Le Monde website about the new global status report from REN21. Despite record growth in renewables, 'the energy transition is not happening,' says new report With … Continue reading “The energy transition is not happening” writes REN21 →

The problem with renewable energy certificates

Anders Bjørn, Postdoctoral fellow in environmental science, Concordia University; H. Damon Matthews, Professor, Concordia University; Matthew Brander, University of Edinburgh; and Shannon M Lloyd, Concordia University, write on The Conversation website about a new study that shows that companies largely rely on renewable energy certificates to report steep electricity emissions reductions and that this is … Continue reading The problem with renewable energy certificates →

The world’s most climate vulnerable countries want rich, high-emission nations to pay for climate damages

The UN climate change conference now underway in Bonn, Germany has been a war of words in terms of who pays for climate disasters. This follows similar concerns raised at COP26 in Glasgow last year. Stuart Braun discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Climate vulnerable nations demand compensation for … Continue reading The world’s most climate vulnerable countries want rich, high-emission nations to pay for climate damages →

The Qatar World Cup is failing to live up to promises on reducing its carbon footprint

Later this year, the whole world will be following the world’s largest football tournament. There were questions when Qatar was awarded to host the event but the organisers have claimed this will be the first “carbon neutral” World Cup. Paul MacInnes writes on the Guardian website that they are failing to live up to its … Continue reading The Qatar World Cup is failing to live up to promises on reducing its carbon footprint →

EU policymakers must urgently strengthen the draft rules to phase out fossil fuels in shipping as quickly as possible, or face potential international litigation

A proposed EU marine fuel standard would promote sales of LNG, a fossil fuel supplied by Russia, instead of the zero-emission solutions needed under the Paris Agreement. Aoife O’Leary, head of Opportunity Green, a non-profit focusing on international climate issues, provides his views in an article on the climate change news website. EU must … Continue reading EU policymakers must urgently strengthen the draft rules to phase out fossil fuels in shipping as quickly as possible, or face potential international litigation →