Many Australians feel frustration at the refusal of their government to “turn around” to face what’s clear to everyone else, a galloping climate emergency

It was not that long ago that the world looked on in horror at the disastrous fires in Australia. How much was related to climate change? Does it matter. As the evidence has accumulated, and the new IPCC report reinforces it, Australia has carved out a name for itself as a global laggard. Mark Kenny, … Continue reading Many Australians feel frustration at the refusal of their government to “turn around” to face what’s clear to everyone else, a galloping climate emergency

Recent conflicts, political turmoil and the growing threat of climate-induced disasters could push Mozambique to re-envision its energy and development strategies

Mozambique is at a crossroads in its development. It has fossil fuels that it desperately wants to exploit, seeing them as a major opportunity for wealth creation. Yet, this is far from certain, and many believe that such exploitation will simply entrench poverty and lead to continued conflict. Mozambique has had too much of both. … Continue reading Recent conflicts, political turmoil and the growing threat of climate-induced disasters could push Mozambique to re-envision its energy and development strategies

What it takes to urgently improve the energy efficiency of Britain’s housing stock

With some of the worst levels of energy efficiency in Europe, Britain’s housing stock is in urgent need of a plan to encompass wishes, grants to alleviate fuel poverty as well as installer training. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, provides his views in his column for the July/August issue of Energy … Continue reading What it takes to urgently improve the energy efficiency of Britain’s housing stock

The important role energy performance certificates can play to encourage low carbon home heating

Andrew Warren, chair of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, explores the potential future for building Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) as the UK shifts towards lower carbon home heating in an article first published on the Business Green website.   What role could EPCs play in the crucial shift towards low carbon home heating? The days … Continue reading The important role energy performance certificates can play to encourage low carbon home heating

UK manufacturers legally required to make spare parts available for all electrical products

Right to repair rules will extend lifespan of products, the UK government says. Products such as washing machines, TVs and fridges should become easier to repair and cheaper to run under new rules coming into force. Lois Mackenzie discusses latest developments in an article on The Manufacturer website.   New right to repair rules for … Continue reading UK manufacturers legally required to make spare parts available for all electrical products

To meet its climate goals under the Paris Agreement, India will have to further ramp up its efforts to decarbonise the industrial sector

The road to India’s prosperity has its own set of obstacles and challenges. While industries are the growth engines of our country’s economic development, they are also highly energy-intensive. To meet its climate goals under the Paris Agreement, India will have to further ramp up its efforts to decarbonise the industrial sector. That work has … Continue reading To meet its climate goals under the Paris Agreement, India will have to further ramp up its efforts to decarbonise the industrial sector

Environment campaigners in Italy are suing the government for failing to sufficiently tackle the climate crisis

Plaintiffs want court to order Mario Draghi’s government to adopt more ambitious climate policies. In 2019, Italy set itself a 33% target for carbon emissions reduction by 2030. Campaigners say the ecological objectives outlined in Italy’s recovery plan, which was submitted to the European commission in late April, are not ambitious enough. Angela Giuffrida discusses … Continue reading Environment campaigners in Italy are suing the government for failing to sufficiently tackle the climate crisis

Germany’s energy transition: government reacts to pressure from climate activists and chastened by its highest court

The proposed 2030 climate change targets for Germany are a "gigantic" task that will push the export-reliant economy to hasten its phase-out of coal-fired power plants and cars that run on fossil fuels. Ajit Niranjan discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   Germany's more ambitious climate goals pressure industry to … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition: government reacts to pressure from climate activists and chastened by its highest court

Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system

In the last 15 years, the US has seen a dramatic change in its shift to a carbon-free electric power system. Ryan Wiser, Bentham Paulos, Dev Millstein and Joseph Rand from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory write on The Conversation website about this shift. Pay particular attention to what has happened to projected energy demand.   … Continue reading Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system

More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are not yet taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient

A news item on the Dutch News website discusses the problems in getting homeowners to take action to make their homes more energy efficient. Are you finding the same problems in your country?   More than half of home owners are not boosting energy efficiency More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are … Continue reading More than half the Netherlands’ four million home owners are not yet taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient