Two new EEA reports on the need for action to improve adaptation nationally and locally

Despite the increasing awareness of climate change impacts and the need to adapt, many of Europe’s cities and towns are struggling to handle the impacts of heatwaves, severe droughts and destructive floods. Two European Environment Agency (EEA) reports published today stress the urgent need for action to improve adaptation and resilience at local and national … Continue reading Two new EEA reports on the need for action to improve adaptation nationally and locally →

Irish government publishes new climate law which commits Ireland to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

Paul O’Donoghue writes on the Times website about a new climate action bill published by the Irish government. The bill is a positive step forward for the climate agenda, but also for Ireland. It will make Ireland a leader when it comes to climate action. Climate change bill ‘will improve poor emissions record’ The … Continue reading Irish government publishes new climate law which commits Ireland to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 →

Sweden tops the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transitions Index

Harry Kretchmer writes on the WEForum website about the progress that Sweden has made in its energy transition and that the country now tops the WEF Energy Transitions Index. How is your country doing? Transforming homes into power stations - how Sweden is disrupting energy production 54% of Sweden’s power comes from renewables and … Continue reading Sweden tops the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transitions Index →

While Germany has seen recent gains in renewable energy there is still a long way to go to reach the 65% renewable target by 2030

While all the world has been watching Germany’s ambitious Energiewende (energy transition), while there have been many improvements there are still many challenges to reach its long-term goals. Recent developments in renewables is described in a news item on the renews.biz website. German renewables hits 'almost 50%' of consumption Renewable energy accounted for 48% … Continue reading While Germany has seen recent gains in renewable energy there is still a long way to go to reach the 65% renewable target by 2030 →

UK government agrees to review energy policy after pressure from environmental campaigners

Campaigners have been concerned that the current National Policy Statement that dates back to 2011 allows for new fossil fuel projects to proceed. The government has now agreed to review its national energy policy in light of the UK’s more ambitious climate targets. Madeleine Cuff explains in an article on the inews website. Green … Continue reading UK government agrees to review energy policy after pressure from environmental campaigners →

Strong argument that an energy savings grant scheme in UK should also support lighting

We can now take advantage of the Green Homes Grant in the UK. But there is one glaring omission in the technologies available to UK’s homeowners, according to Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation in the September issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Why has lighting been left in the … Continue reading Strong argument that an energy savings grant scheme in UK should also support lighting →

America’s energy transition: what the Trump administration is doing to energy efficiency standards

The US President has waged a war against energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, washing machines, boilers, cars - and now even showerheads, writes Andrew Warren, a former special advisor to the UK House of Commons environment select committee, first published on the Business Green website. On Seinfeld, shower heads, and Trump's war on efficiency … Continue reading America’s energy transition: what the Trump administration is doing to energy efficiency standards →

US risked severe economic harm by withdrawing from Paris climate agreement

Economists from the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at the London School of Economics examined the economic case for the US withdrawal and they found that climate breakdown would cause growing losses to US infrastructure and property and impede the rate of economic growth this century. Fiona Harvey explains in an article on The Guardian … Continue reading US risked severe economic harm by withdrawing from Paris climate agreement →

Post-Brexit energy performance standards: to be more ambitious?

The UK Government claims it wants to take the opportunity to set more ‘ambitious’ rules after the end of the post-Brexit transition period. This obviously means that the UK will not stay in ecodesign that is the directive for minimum energy performance standards for products or the energy labelling regulation. This will be quite a … Continue reading Post-Brexit energy performance standards: to be more ambitious? →

Court requires Ireland to come up with more robust and ambitious climate plan

The case was the first of its kind in Ireland and only the second in the world in which the highest national court of law has required a government to increase the ambition of the national climate policy. Brian Mahon explains in an article on The Times website. Victory for Friends of the Irish … Continue reading Court requires Ireland to come up with more robust and ambitious climate plan →