New briefing on the revised Energy Efficiency Directive

The Coalition for Energy Savings has recently published a briefing that explains the key EED provisions agreed. The ‘Fit for 55 package’ and the REPowerEU plan proposed to upgrade the current Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) to align it with the higher 2030 climate objective and speed up the phase-out of fossil fuel imports from Russia. … Continue reading New briefing on the revised Energy Efficiency Directive

Call for a ‘carbon takeback obligation’

A group of scientists says forcing polluters to store carbon dioxide underground is needed to help the world reach net zero. They are calling for carbon capture and storage which many experts feel is the wrong approach. Fiona Harvey discusses the call for the ‘take back’ in an article on The Guardian website.   Fossil … Continue reading Call for a ‘carbon takeback obligation’

Up to 24,000 offices in England have yet to meet the new energy performance standards coming into effect next year

Tough energy performance rules mean landlords must rebuild their sites or leave them empty. From next year, offices will need to hold a minimum “E” rated energy performance certificate (EPC). In 2027, the bar rises to “C” — and it goes up to “B” in 2030, when more than 63,000 offices that have more than … Continue reading Up to 24,000 offices in England have yet to meet the new energy performance standards coming into effect next year

A net-zero pathway for Canada’s oil and gas sector is key for Canada’s climate goals

A cap on the oil and sector’s emissions can deliver that pathway is an important way forward for Canada to meet its climate goals. The Canadian Climate Institute and Net-Zero Advisory Body discuss the need for a cap on oil and gas emissions in an article on the Climate Institute’s website.   Canada needs a … Continue reading A net-zero pathway for Canada’s oil and gas sector is key for Canada’s climate goals

The Supreme Court limited the EPA’s authority on emissions, dealing a blow to efforts to address climate change

The EPA ruling means it may now be mathematically impossible through available avenues for the US to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions goal. Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist and author of Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution, provides his views in an article on The Guardian website.   The US supreme … Continue reading The Supreme Court limited the EPA’s authority on emissions, dealing a blow to efforts to address climate change

Update on timetable to upgrade minimum energy standards for rental properties in UK

Last week, EiD posted “Landlords in UK face challenge to upgrade their properties.” It mentioned that planned deadline for newly let properties is 2025. For all existing lets, the deadline will be 2028. It turns out this is misleading as can be seen by the following news item from the May issue of Energy in … Continue reading Update on timetable to upgrade minimum energy standards for rental properties in UK

The largest ever ban of toxic chemicals announced by European Commission

Thousands of the most notorious chemicals will be rapidly banned in Europe, the European Commission announced last week, as part of the Zero-pollution goal in the EU Green Deal. Michael Warhurst discusses the new roadmap in an article on the Chemtrust website.   New EU roadmap proposes action to ban some of the most hazardous … Continue reading The largest ever ban of toxic chemicals announced by European Commission

With little time left of the Trump administration, career Environmental Protection Agency employees still find themselves in bureaucratic battle with the agency’s political leaders

The presidential transition underway in Washington is full of challenges to the incoming team. The Trump administration is trying to ensure its legacy by accelerating the push to deregulate in many areas. Lisa Friedman writes on the New York Times website about the efforts of career experts to minimise deregulation and ensure environmental controls are … Continue reading With little time left of the Trump administration, career Environmental Protection Agency employees still find themselves in bureaucratic battle with the agency’s political leaders

Changes underway to weaken environmental standards in the US

President Trump has been determined to loosen environmental standards.  We have seen his approach to fuel efficiency standards, LEDs and many more. What is of serious concern is that another change would restrict the kinds of scientific studies that can be used when writing new environmental regulations. Juliet Eilperin explains in an article on The … Continue reading Changes underway to weaken environmental standards in the US

US Environmental Protection Agency pushing forward with policy that could limit the use of science used to underpin regulations

British cabinet minister Michael Gove said during the Brexit referendum in 2016 that “people in this country have had enough of experts”. Now the US is following that view. Brady Dennis wrote on The Washington Post website that the EPA wants to limit the science used to develop its regulations. What are your views?   … Continue reading US Environmental Protection Agency pushing forward with policy that could limit the use of science used to underpin regulations