The Luxembourg government has decided to exit the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), an international trade and investment agreement concluded in the early 1990s to protect investments in the energy sector, Luxembourg’s Minister of Energy and Spatial Planning, Claude Turmes, announced on Friday 18 November. Frédéric Simon discusses latest developments in an article on the Euractiv website. … Continue reading The latest EU state to leave the Energy Charter Treaty: Luxembourg
Category: international organisations
New EEA report on impact of heatwaves on health
Unprecedented heatwaves — as seen this year — are the greatest direct climate-related health threat to Europe’s population. Heatwaves already account for numerous deaths and illnesses. This burden is set to increase without more climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Heat-health action plans, urban greening, better building design and adjusting working times can contribute to … Continue reading New EEA report on impact of heatwaves on health
Children and young people are a big part of COP27
Aoife Daly, Lecturer in Law at University College Cork writes on the Conversation website about how young people are playing an increasingly important role at the UN climate summit this year. COP27: how young climate activists are changing international human rights law World leaders and climate scientists aren’t the only ones who have gathered … Continue reading Children and young people are a big part of COP27
New EEA briefing on how to keep buildings cool sustainably
Europe’s temperatures are rising more than twice as fast as the global average with more and more extreme heatwaves being recorded. The demand for sustainable cooling in buildings is increasing and, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, there is a need for buildings that are energy efficient, use passive cooling … Continue reading New EEA briefing on how to keep buildings cool sustainably
While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay?
Loss and damage has been at the heart of much media reporting about the upcoming Cop27 climate talks in Egypt in November. With many disasters recently, such as the flooding in Pakistan, the importance of loss and damage compensation gains attention. Isabella Kaminski writes on the Climate Change News about the challenges involved. She notes that … Continue reading While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay?
Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels
Chris Brown writes on the CBC News website about the pressure that the shipping industry is under, given that all sectors of the economy are having to find an appropriate path to net-zero emissions. Importantly, one company, Copenhagen-based Maersk, until recently the world's No. 1 container shipper over the past 25 years, has set one … Continue reading Shipping industry under pressure to reduce GHG emissions given that 99% of shipping globally is powered by fossil fuels
“Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability
With carefully designed debt-for-climate swaps and support from international institutions, developing countries could expand their finance for desperately needed climate mitigation and adaptation actions and remove some of their heavy debt burden. Soyoung Oh, Junior Research Fellow, The Fletcher School at Tufts University discusses her views in an article on The Conversation website. How … Continue reading “Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability
New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future
The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) recently released a briefing titled “International Investment Governance and Achieving a Just Zero-Carbon Future,” available in both English and French. The briefing discusses how the current international investment regime is hostile to states’ ability to address the climate crisis and will deter, delay or water down states’ climate-related … Continue reading New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future
EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation
As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation
The “perfect solution” to climate change and energy security?
The presidency of upcoming climate talks is embracing fossil gas as a “transition” fuel, despite its polluting impact. Joe Lo discusses latest developments in an article on the Climate Change News website. Cop27 host Egypt plans to push gas as ‘the perfect solution’ Cop27 host Egypt and 16 other gas-exporting governments have pledged to … Continue reading The “perfect solution” to climate change and energy security?
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 