European Central Bank climate stress tests show the challenges ahead

The stress test published Wednesday compiled data gathered on more than 4 million companies worldwide and 1,600 banks in the 19-country eurozone where the ECB sets monetary policy. The broad takeaway was that an orderly and swift transition “to minimize costs and maximize benefits outweighs short-term cost of transition to zero-carbon economy over the medium … Continue reading European Central Bank climate stress tests show the challenges ahead →

New World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution

New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change. Since … Continue reading New World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution →

New EEA briefing on data of key air pollutants in Europe

Concentrations of key air pollutants remain too high in most European countries. According to the European Environment Agency’s official data, published this week, most European Union (EU) Member States exceed at least one or more of the EU’s legal limits for pollutants in ambient air in 2019. Air pollution still too high in most … Continue reading New EEA briefing on data of key air pollutants in Europe →

Negotiators at COP26 will finalise plans for the global stocktake, taking a look at the collective progress the world’s nations have made on climate action

To achieve any goal, targets must be set and progress measured. This is equally true for measuring progress on the Paris climate agreement. Steven Lam from the University of Guelph, Sherilee Harper from the University of Alberta and Warren Dodd from the University of Waterloo write on The Conversation website about how the progress will … Continue reading Negotiators at COP26 will finalise plans for the global stocktake, taking a look at the collective progress the world’s nations have made on climate action →

To avert catastrophic warming, the global community must rapidly reduce how much of these fossil fuels it extracts and burns

Daniel Welsby, James Price and Steve Pye from University College London write on The Conversation website that their research found that nearly 60% of global oil and fossil gas reserves will need to remain in the ground in 2050. This supports Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, who told The Guardian: “If governments are … Continue reading To avert catastrophic warming, the global community must rapidly reduce how much of these fossil fuels it extracts and burns →

West Africa needs infrastructure and expertise to exploit hydropower capacity to ensure electricity efficiency

Innocent Odoh writes on the Leadership website about efforts to put its energy system on a more sustainable footing. ECOWAS Quest For Energy Efficiency Amid Challenges West Africa has large energy resources, which accounts for about one-third of African gas and oil reserves and over 23,000 Megawatt (MW) of technically exploitable hydropower capacity according … Continue reading West Africa needs infrastructure and expertise to exploit hydropower capacity to ensure electricity efficiency →

New report on cutting emissions through fossil fuel subsidy reform and taxation

Earlier this month, the latest IPCC report gave its starkest climate warning yet. As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, this must sound a "death knell" for fossil fuels, starting with an end to new production and with shifting fossil fuel subsidies into renewable energy. The dire message comes amidst some reasons for hope. We … Continue reading New report on cutting emissions through fossil fuel subsidy reform and taxation →

It is through the tidal wave of climate litigation that citizens themselves can trigger rapid decarbonisation — and avert catastrophic global heating

Another IPCC report, another dire warning. Yet world leaders and big polluters are doing little to reduce emissions. Deutsche Welle’s Stuart Braun says climate litigation could be the only way out. Opinion: Court action could be vital as IPCC confirms climate emergency After a month of unprecedented flooding and wildfires in Europe, it isn't surprising … Continue reading It is through the tidal wave of climate litigation that citizens themselves can trigger rapid decarbonisation — and avert catastrophic global heating →

Reaction to IPCC report – “This is not “climate alarmism”. It is, as far as experts can ascertain, fact”

Keith Baker, Researcher in Fuel Poverty and Energy Policy, Built Environment Asset Management Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University explains in an article on The Conversation website that the world has consistently failed to agree and enact concrete actions in response to date, but the stark reality is that we need to focus on actions. … Continue reading Reaction to IPCC report – “This is not “climate alarmism”. It is, as far as experts can ascertain, fact” →

A creative way behavioural insights could be applied to COP26

In this blog post, the Behavioural Insights Team outlines a few creative ways behavioural insights could be applied to COP26 in Glasgow – from lead-up, to opening day, to delivery of the conference itself. This is a tongue-in-cheek manifesto of how the conference would look if overzealous behavioural scientists helped organise it. Background: the Behavioural … Continue reading A creative way behavioural insights could be applied to COP26 →