UN’s new “loss and damage” fund off to slow start

Demand for finance to pay for the aftermath of climate impacts is rocketing – but progress on getting a new UN loss and damage fund up and running is slow. Laurie Goering discusses latest developments in an article on the Climate Change News website. Expectations mount as loss and damage fund staggers to its … Continue reading UN’s new “loss and damage” fund off to slow start →

The road to COP29: EU foreign affairs ministers want fossil fuel industry to pay for fighting climate change in poorer countries

EU foreign affairs ministers met earlier this week and argued that the fossil fuel industry needs to play a bigger role in addressing climate change. In an article on the Reuters website, Kate Abnett discusses the views of EU ministers. Fossil fuel sector should pay climate finance, EU ministers say The fossil fuel industry … Continue reading The road to COP29: EU foreign affairs ministers want fossil fuel industry to pay for fighting climate change in poorer countries →

New report shows transport is the “problem child” of Europe’s climate efforts

Transport emissions in Europe have grown 26% since 1990 and greenhouse gases from sector could make up 44% of continent’s total output by 2030, says the campaign group Transport & Environment. Ajit Niranjan discusses the report’s findings in an article on the Guardian website. Campaigners warn over failure to curb Europe’s ‘runaway’ transport emissions … Continue reading New report shows transport is the “problem child” of Europe’s climate efforts →

New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe

Despite legislative steps forward over the past five years, efforts to transform Europe’s largely linear, ‘throw-away’ economy into a circular one will require further bold action and strong implementation of existing measures. Decisive action is essential to drastically reduce waste, prioritise reduction of resource use, improve recycling rates and improve the introduction of products that … Continue reading New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe →

98% of Europeans live in areas with unhealthy levels of PM2.5

While air pollution levels have improved significantly over the past 20 years, so much more to do because it is estimated that 98% of Europeans live in areas that the World Health Organization says have unhealthy levels of PM2.5. Helena Horton discusses the findings in an article on the Guardian website. Air pollution levels … Continue reading 98% of Europeans live in areas with unhealthy levels of PM2.5 →

Rats leaving a sinking ship: how the European Energy Charter helped energy efficiency

In an article in the March issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, looks at the evolution of the international Energy Charter Treaty and why the UK government has decided to withdraw from its obligations. Is the Energy Charter Treaty a sinking ship? Later this … Continue reading Rats leaving a sinking ship: how the European Energy Charter helped energy efficiency →

New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks

Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, and climate risks are threatening its energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability, and people’s health. According to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment, published this week, many of these risks have already reached critical levels and could become catastrophic without urgent and … Continue reading New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks →

Energy in Demand News, March 10, 2024

The World Trade Organization's Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13) recently took place in Abu Dhabi (February 26-March 2). In its energy update, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) wrote that “fossil fuel subsidy reform conversations have made marked progress at the WTO. Last week, the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform initiative—comprised of 48 members—delivered a new … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 10, 2024 →

New EEA briefing on environmental impact of textile consumption in Europe

Textile consumption in Europe causes significant pressures on the environment and climate. Part of these pressures comes from returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed and never used for their intended purpose. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing looks at the issue and estimates the share of returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed … Continue reading New EEA briefing on environmental impact of textile consumption in Europe →

New EEA briefing on the ‘just transition’ to sustainability

What do we mean by a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable future? A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, looks into how a shift to a greener, climate-neutral, circular economy will impact our society and describes how policies must be informed by concepts of justice and fairness if they are to succeed. … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the ‘just transition’ to sustainability →