Category: national policies

Blog on the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (the CRC, formerly the Carbon Reduction Commitment) is a mandatory carbon emissions reduction scheme in the UK that applies to large non-energy-intensive organisations in the public and private sectors. The CRC was first announced in the 2007 Energy White Paper following a lengthy consultation for the scheme to be mandatory, … Continue reading Blog on the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme →

Legal framework for renewable energy is firming up in Romania

Laura Grigore explains on Romania’s Business Review website about the latest legal developments in Romania to establish a sustainable electricity system based on renewables.   Romanian parliament approves law on measures in the field of electricity produced from renewable energy sources Romanian Parliament adopted by a large majority the legislation on measures in the field … Continue reading Legal framework for renewable energy is firming up in Romania →

Sad day for implementing energy efficiency in the UK

Mark Thrower has written an excellent editorial in this month’s issue of Energy in Buildings and Industry. While the UK is in the early days following a general election, Mark’s editorial shows the “influence” of civil servants in changing the approach being taken within the ministry to comprehensive promote energy efficiency. We can only hope … Continue reading Sad day for implementing energy efficiency in the UK →

The road to Paris: focus on Japan

EiD is trying to provide profiles on the major countries that need to make serious commitments at the upcoming global climate summit in Paris in December. Reuters provides a comprehensive review in The Guardian about Japan’s plans.   Japan outlines 2030 carbon target ahead of Paris climate summit Japan is proposing to cut its greenhouse … Continue reading The road to Paris: focus on Japan →

Canada’s GHG emissions moving in wrong direction

All countries are trying to show their best efforts ahead of the Paris climate summit. Unfortunately, as Shawn McCarthy writes in the Globe and Mail, recent data show that Canada has little hope of meeting the commitments it made at the 2009 Copenhagen summit.   Canada’s GHG emissions rose in 2013, leaving little room to … Continue reading Canada’s GHG emissions moving in wrong direction →

New energy white paper in Australia widely criticised

While Australia has traditionally been known for strong policies in energy efficiency and renewable energy, it has also been known as a major producer of fossil fuels. Joshua S Hill writes on the CleanTechnica website about the plans of the Abbott government. It is not even looking at a balanced approach as it heavily favours … Continue reading New energy white paper in Australia widely criticised →

Consumer report in UK calls for radical new approach to energy efficiency

Karl Mathiesen writes in The Guardian about a new report by Which? that says successive governments’ failures mean UK’s housing stock remains the least energy-efficient in Europe and that a radical new approach is needed. With a national election coming in May, it would be good to think that at least one of the political … Continue reading Consumer report in UK calls for radical new approach to energy efficiency →

China’s energy policy is contradictory – but it is shifting

For those of you who are following the developments in China, this blog by Nick Butler for the Financial Times will give you plenty to think about.   Can China change its energy policy? The signals are clear – but contradictory. China has embraced the concept of climate change and is allowing officials to discuss … Continue reading China’s energy policy is contradictory – but it is shifting →

Rethinking energy efficiency

Andrew Warren of the UK's Association for the Conservation of Energy provides an excellent article in Building Magazine about how the European Commission is now treating energy efficiency as the first fuel. He commends this approach and contrasts this with the latest UK position to put old-fashioned supply-side solutions first. What can you say about … Continue reading Rethinking energy efficiency →