India providing mixed signals in setting the tone for emerging economies to show leadership in climate action

India has the potential to set the tone for emerging economies’ climate action over the coming decade. However, its NDC commitments significantly understate the ambition in its own national climate policies. Tarun Gopalakrishnan, Junior Fellow, Climate Lab at Tufts University, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses India’s climate policies.   A tale of … Continue reading India providing mixed signals in setting the tone for emerging economies to show leadership in climate action →

New research reveals nearly 9,000 ‘energy crisis hotspots’ in England and Wales

Environmental group Friends of the Earth has found there are 9,000 energy crisis hotspots in England and Wales. These are places where communities are at highest risk of financial hardship because energy use is high and the typical household income is below the national average. In most cases, energy use is high in these areas … Continue reading New research reveals nearly 9,000 ‘energy crisis hotspots’ in England and Wales →

Dozens of local energy cooperatives ¬– citizen-owned initiatives investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency – in operation in Belgium

Gabriela Baczynska writes on the Reuters website about energy cooperatives in Belgium. These cooperatives, which rely on their own production rather than buying from volatile markets, have seen a huge spike in demand as the energy crunch has hit consumers. Many of the cooperatives have also seen demand jump in the current high-inflation environment in … Continue reading Dozens of local energy cooperatives ¬– citizen-owned initiatives investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency – in operation in Belgium →

The German government plans a new digitalisation strategy that could pave the way for greater energy efficiency

Edgar Meza writes on the Clean Energy Wire website about German plan that would help the energy sector “de-bureaucratise” and accelerate the rollout of smart meters. What are your views?   Germany aims to push energy efficiency with digitalisation strategy The German government plans a new digitalisation strategy  that could pave the way for greater energy efficiency in the … Continue reading The German government plans a new digitalisation strategy that could pave the way for greater energy efficiency →

New bioclimatic and self-sufficient cabins have been installed to house the shepherds working in some of the high valleys of the Pyrenees

A new transportable solar-powered module provided by the Catalan government for shepherds is described in a news article on the mayor.eu website. What do you think?   Catalan shepherds get energy efficient with new cabin The Catalan Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda announced that it has installed a new bioclimatic and self-sufficient … Continue reading New bioclimatic and self-sufficient cabins have been installed to house the shepherds working in some of the high valleys of the Pyrenees →

Polluting vehicles can be exchanged for up to €4,000 to help pay for an electric bike under a new scheme in France

France has created a new subsidy scheme which is seen as the most generous of an array of incentives to persuade the country to get out of old-style transport and embrace active mobility. Charles Bremner discusses the subsidy in an article on The Times website.   On your ebike, and here’s €4,000 for it, says … Continue reading Polluting vehicles can be exchanged for up to €4,000 to help pay for an electric bike under a new scheme in France →

The US energy and climate transition: carbon capture to play a big role

In an article on The Conversation website, Wil Burns, Professor of Research in Environmental Policy at the American University School of International Service discusses what the US climate bill means for the energy transition. What are your views?   The climate bill’s projected emissions cuts rely heavily on carbon capture – it would mean thousands … Continue reading The US energy and climate transition: carbon capture to play a big role →

For Canada to secure its place in the future global hydrogen market, it is maintaining fossil fuels as the centrepiece of its strategy today

Canada’s strategy is to grow a hydrogen industry at home until there is global demand. At that point, it will want to crank up exports. However, there are two massive problems on this front. One is that while using natural gas is currently the cheapest way to produce hydrogen, the International Energy Agency expects the … Continue reading For Canada to secure its place in the future global hydrogen market, it is maintaining fossil fuels as the centrepiece of its strategy today →

How will the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) work and what will it achieve in terms of reining in global temperatures?

Matt McGrath writes on the BBC News website about what will be achieved by the landmark US climate bill both in the US and globally.   US climate bill success masks scale of warming challenge Many are hailing a landmark US bill approved by the US Senate as a game changer for American and global … Continue reading How will the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) work and what will it achieve in terms of reining in global temperatures? →

Australia and its climate and energy transition

Adam Morton writes on The Guardian website about what is known about the new climate legislation and what it means for climate action.   Australia’s climate change targets will become law. What happens now? The Australian House of Representatives has passed the country’s first climate change legislation in more than a decade. The main part … Continue reading Australia and its climate and energy transition →