We know that to reach our long-term climate and energy objectives, our heating systems will have to be decarbonised. Jillian Ambrose writes on the Guardian website about plans for buildings in London’s Square Mile. What are your views? Low-carbon heating system to warm up London’s Square Mile One of the UK’s largest low-carbon heating … Continue reading Decarbonising London’s Square Mile heating system: heat pumps and geothermal technology
Category: local policies
New EEA assessments on urban environmental change
European cities have the potential to lead the way towards green, sustainable future, according to two assessments on urban environmental change, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) recently. Cities play pivotal roles in shifting to green, sustainable future Cities face huge challenges in trying to shift to a greener future in the wake … Continue reading New EEA assessments on urban environmental change
Miami hires the first official in the US appointed to focus solely on heatwaves
Having been to Miami, one certainly understands extreme heat and it is getting worse. The city and Dade county have hired a chief heat officer to focus attention on what can be done to address the problem. Oliver Milman discusses recent developments in an article on the Guardian website. Miami’s chief heat officer calls … Continue reading Miami hires the first official in the US appointed to focus solely on heatwaves
COVID-19 has helped researchers better understand the relationship between economic activity and the environment
Although COVID-19 itself, and the associated containment measures, have had tragic consequences for societies, it also serves as an unprecedented natural experiment that helps us to better understand the relationship between economic activity and the environment. Frederik Noack, Assistant Professor, environmental economics, University of British Columbia; Dominic Rohner, Professor of Economics, Université de Lausanne; and … Continue reading COVID-19 has helped researchers better understand the relationship between economic activity and the environment
How many Republican politicians in the US are addressing climate change
We are all too aware that the Trump administration is doing everything possible to undermine climate policies. Yet, in the US, there is progress being made in address climate change. Nicolas Gunkel, Research Fellow at Boston University Initiative on Cities explains in an article on The Conversation website that not only Democrat politicians are taking … Continue reading How many Republican politicians in the US are addressing climate change
Most vulnerable cities in US to climate change found to be least energy efficient
Increasingly, we are seeing action at the local level to address many of our sustainable development issues. Many cities are at risk due to climate change. Sebastien Malo from the Thompson Reuters Foundation writes on the Reuter’s website that, in the United States, those most vulnerable are also the least energy efficient. It’s obviously time … Continue reading Most vulnerable cities in US to climate change found to be least energy efficient
World Bank provides support to 150 cities that are taking “aggressive climate action”
Increasingly we are seeing the importance of local action. Leila Mead writes on the IISD website about an important collaboration between the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the World Bank to ensure cities have the necessary funding to implement sustainable initiatives and climate resilience programmes. World Bank Invests US$4.5 Billion for … Continue reading World Bank provides support to 150 cities that are taking “aggressive climate action”
One London borough offering array of sustainable energy grants to address climate concerns
The Camden Council news site reports about a new climate fund available to the local community. This is an encouraging initiative. Save energy and money with the new Camden Climate Fund A new fund to help with the costs of installing renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements to homes, businesses and community … Continue reading One London borough offering array of sustainable energy grants to address climate concerns
Importance of local climate action
Sonya Angelica Diehn provides a good article on the Deutsche Welle website on the importance of local climate action in the United States. This may be about the US but it is a message that is important to all countries and regions. This cannot be stressed enough. Forget Trump, it's all about local climate … Continue reading Importance of local climate action
Taking a more sustainable approach to addressing heat waves in cities
Much of southern Europe has had to cope with a major heat wave for an extended period. This situation is also true in many parts of North America and elsewhere. Nicholas Rajkovich, Assistant Professor of Architecture, University at Buffalo explains in an article on The Conversation website that multiple solutions are required for cities to … Continue reading Taking a more sustainable approach to addressing heat waves in cities
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 