New EEA briefing on inequalities in access to urban green and blue spaces across Europe

High-quality green and blue spaces in cities, like parks, allotments, riverbanks and coastlines, are crucial for health and well-being, in particular for the elderly, children and people on low incomes. However, a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, shows that access is not equal. How green are European cities? Green space key … Continue reading New EEA briefing on inequalities in access to urban green and blue spaces across Europe →

The energy transition to net zero needs improved energy efficiency to succeed

In a recent event for the World Economic Forum, Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA and Björn Rosengren, CEO of sustainability technology company ABB, discuss what needs to happen to improve energy efficiency and reach net zero. Their discussion is in an article on the European Sting website by Kate Whiting. Energy efficiency … Continue reading The energy transition to net zero needs improved energy efficiency to succeed →

Reaction to IEA’s review of Canada’s energy policies

Bruce Campbell, Adjunct professor, faculty of environmental and urban change, at York University in Canada writes on The Conversation website about the praise the IEA gave Canada’s policies only weeks after the government’s Environment and Sustainable Development Commissioner released a scathing report on Canada’s climate record. Well, no one said the carbon-neutral energy transition would … Continue reading Reaction to IEA’s review of Canada’s energy policies →

New EEA reports show there are clear opportunities to decouple Europe’s waste generation from economic growth

In most European countries and in the EU as a whole, waste generation is growing but at a slower pace than the economy. However, there are no signs that the overall objective of reducing the total generation of waste is close to being achieved, according to a European Environment Agency report published recently. The report’s … Continue reading New EEA reports show there are clear opportunities to decouple Europe’s waste generation from economic growth →

Financing energy efficiency in Poland

A news article on the New Europe website discusses a landmark scheme to improve the energy efficiency of Polish homes. Separately, the moderndiplomacy website announced that the World Bank will be lending Poland €250 million to improve air quality and energy efficiency. Poland to boost residential energy efficiency with help from EBRD, BNP Paribas … Continue reading Financing energy efficiency in Poland →

European Commission publishes proposals for revising buildings directive and gas package

According to the European Consumer Organisation BEUC, consumers will benefit from new basic housing standards that will allow them to use less energy to heat or cool their homes, according to the European Commission’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive announced this week, part of its ‘Fit for 55’ climate package. However, the Commission’s Gas Package … Continue reading European Commission publishes proposals for revising buildings directive and gas package →

New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability

Most Europeans live in cities and cities are Europe’s economic, cultural, and political hubs. Cities face environmental and climate challenges but also hold keys to realise Europe’s sustainability ambitions. Two new assessments on urban sustainability, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today, combine several environment and climate themes, calling for better integration of policies … Continue reading New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability →

The technology to capture carbon is in development, but one burning question remains: where on Earth should we store all that carbon?

Kian Mintz-Woo, Lecturer in Philosophy, Environmental Research Institute at the University College Cork writes on The Conversation website about the challenges to use carbon capture and storage to reach zero emissions. Carbon capture and storage: where should the world store CO₂? It’s a moral dilemma The recent Glasgow climate pact committed 197 countries to … Continue reading The technology to capture carbon is in development, but one burning question remains: where on Earth should we store all that carbon? →

Seeing the benefits of GFANZ

Many of you may not have heard of GFANZ but it could play a key role in finance climate change measures. F. Haider Alvi, Assistant Professor of Innovation Finance at Athabasca University in Canada discusses GFANZ in an article on The Conversation website. How global business could be the unexpected COP26 solution to climate … Continue reading Seeing the benefits of GFANZ →

New EEA report on analysis of air quality in Europe

The vast majority of Europe’s urban population is exposed to levels of air pollutants above new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, according to an updated European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis on air quality in Europe released this week. Europe’s urban population remains at risk due to levels of air pollution known to damage health … Continue reading New EEA report on analysis of air quality in Europe →