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 →

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 →

EBRD advances first loan to support renovation of residential multi-apartment buildings in Lithuania

Addressing a core issue in the effort to improve the use of energy in Lithuania, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending €67.5 million to support an innovative scheme to scale up renovation of residential multi-apartment buildings – its largest direct investment in renovating privately owned buildings in the country, according to … Continue reading EBRD advances first loan to support renovation of residential multi-apartment buildings in Lithuania →

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 →

International Maritime Organization accused of repeatedly delayed and watered down climate regulations

Behind closed doors, shipbuilders and miners can speak on behalf of governments while regulating an industry that pollutes as much as all of America’s coal plants. Matt Apuzzo and Sarah Hurtes discuss the organisation in an article on the New York Times website. Tasked to Fight Climate Change, a Secretive U.N. Agency Does the … Continue reading International Maritime Organization accused of repeatedly delayed and watered down climate regulations →

Energy efficiency at heart of global push to net zero

This is a good summary from Energy in Buildings & Industry about the recent IEA report outlining the roadmap to net zero. Energy-efficiency measures are “front-loaded” in the IEA’s new roadmap to net zero The International Energy Agency’s new roadmap to net zero by 2050 has identified energy efficiency as its' first “key pillar … Continue reading Energy efficiency at heart of global push to net zero →

Climate change: “We see a growing gap between the rhetoric and what is happing in the energy markets”

The International Energy Agency says massive investment shift is needed in the next decade to get to net zero in 2050. Steven Mufson discusses the recent IEA study in an article on the Washington Post website. A ‘narrow’ pathway to a net zero future for greenhouse gases, IEA says To limit climate change, by … Continue reading Climate change: “We see a growing gap between the rhetoric and what is happing in the energy markets” →

New EEA studies on the most environmentally friendly modes of motorised passenger transport in Europe

Train travel remains overall the most environmentally friendly mode of motorised passenger transport in Europe — in terms of GHG emissions — as compared to travelling by car or plane, according to two transport and environment studies published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) this week. Motorised transport: train, plane, road or boat — … Continue reading New EEA studies on the most environmentally friendly modes of motorised passenger transport in Europe →

Incoming OECD Secretary-General presented with opportunity to change his record on climate change

If former Australian finance minister Mathias Cormann is to match the climate ambition of the OECD’s biggest member states, his future behaviour will have to be very different to that of his past behaviour. Christian Downie, Associate professor at the Australian National University discusses how Cormann can change in an article on The Conversation website. … Continue reading Incoming OECD Secretary-General presented with opportunity to change his record on climate change →

Australia’s Mathias Cormann elected OECD chief despite climate record

The surprise result is a diplomatic triumph for Australia, whose prime minister, Scott Morrison, had promoted Cormann’s OECD credentials in calls with international counterparts in recent months. Cormann narrowly defeated the Swedish former EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström in the election to lead the 37-member Paris-based organisation, which gives advice to member governments on economic … Continue reading Australia’s Mathias Cormann elected OECD chief despite climate record →