Ukrainian climate scientists will try to take part in global talks to produce the next major climate change report even while they shelter from missile attacks and prepare to fight for their country

Climate scientist Svitlana Krakovska and her colleagues are sheltering from bombs in Kyiv but still trying to work on the upcoming IPCC report. One has to admire their dedication, given the situation. Madeleine Cuff explains in an article on the inews website. ‘We still exist and resist’: Ukrainian climate scientists to press on with … Continue reading Ukrainian climate scientists will try to take part in global talks to produce the next major climate change report even while they shelter from missile attacks and prepare to fight for their country →

New EEA briefing that addresses the links between natural resources and Europe’s ambitions in shifting to a sustainable future

Addressing the links between natural resources like food, energy, water, land, materials and ecosystems services is key to supporting Europe’s ambitions in shifting to a sustainable future, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week. A better understanding of links between natural resources can help the EU’s sustainability drive Europe’s drive … Continue reading New EEA briefing that addresses the links between natural resources and Europe’s ambitions in shifting to a sustainable future →

The new IPCC report gives the clearest indication to date of how a warmer world is affecting all living things on Earth

This sixth series of IPCC reports don’t leave any room for complacency to address climate change. The current context is having to contend with a terrible war in Europe but we certainly have to keep focus on addressing climate change. Matt McGrath writes on the BBC news website about the five main lessons from the … Continue reading The new IPCC report gives the clearest indication to date of how a warmer world is affecting all living things on Earth →

New IPCC report shows we now have hard choices to make

The IPCC assessment offers a stark choice: Does humanity accept this disastrous status quo and the uncertain, unpleasant future it is leading toward, or does it grab the reins and choose a better future? One of the authors of the report, Edward R. Carr, Professor and Director, International Development, Community, and Environment at Clark University … Continue reading New IPCC report shows we now have hard choices to make →

The European Parliament’s lead negotiator has proposed tougher EU targets to reduce energy use this decade

The European Parliament’s rapporteur for the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (2018/2002), Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Denmark), has proposed increasing the EU’s energy efficiency target to at least 43% for final energy consumption and 45.5% for primary energy consumption, according to his draft report sent to shadow rapporteurs on Friday 18 February. Kate Abnett writes … Continue reading The European Parliament’s lead negotiator has proposed tougher EU targets to reduce energy use this decade →

What does the Energy Charter Treaty have to do with the Ukraine crisis?

The German government has been worried about being sued by the fossil fuel companies behind the Russian gas pipeline. This potential litigation is due to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). Yamina Saheb, a friend of EiD used to head the ECT’s energy efficiency unit and is now an energy policy analyst at the OpenExp think … Continue reading What does the Energy Charter Treaty have to do with the Ukraine crisis? →

Discouragingly, the door is open in the EU for more “blue hydrogen” projects

The oil and gas industry is promoting the use of “low-carbon” hydrogen derived from methane that is potentially dirtier than burning fossil gas for energy, scientists and analysts. EU green investment rules facilitate the rollout of blue hydrogen, a fuel that could be more polluting than the fossil gas it is set to replace. Not surprisingly, … Continue reading Discouragingly, the door is open in the EU for more “blue hydrogen” projects →

New EEA briefing on breaches of EU air quality standards

Breaches of EU air quality limits for nitrogen dioxide across Europe were predominantly due to road traffic, while domestic heating lay behind the majority of exceedances for particulate matter, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment on air quality plans published this week. Emissions from road traffic and domestic heating behind breaches of … Continue reading New EEA briefing on breaches of EU air quality standards →

New EEA briefings on impacts of textile consumption in Europe

Textile consumption in Europe has on average the fourth highest impacts on the environment and climate, following consumption of food, housing and mobility. Ahead of the expected EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published this week two briefings that look at measures to reduce those impacts, including on resource … Continue reading New EEA briefings on impacts of textile consumption in Europe →

New EEA briefing on role of environmental taxation in supporting Europe’s sustainability transitions

The European Green Deal acknowledges the crucial role of taxation in Europe’s sustainability transition. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, shows that revenues from environmental taxes can support transition investments but future revenue streams from these taxes will erode as European Union (EU) environmental and climate policy objectives are achieved. The … Continue reading New EEA briefing on role of environmental taxation in supporting Europe’s sustainability transitions →