Does clean energy generate too much waste? Hannah Ritchie checks the data on climate action

From the What on Earth programme on the CBC News website, Hannah Ritchie provides data to show where we are on the road to sustainability. The road to sustainability can seem hazy. Data shows where we need to go "Don’t solar panels and wind turbines generate huge amounts of waste? Aren’t our efforts pointless … Continue reading Does clean energy generate too much waste? Hannah Ritchie checks the data on climate action →

Reflections on the IEA Ministerial

This past week on February 18 and 19, the 32 members of the International Energy Agency met for its bi-annual ministerial. Altogether 58 countries participated and there were over 40 at the ministerial level. There were also executives from more than 50 major energy companies including at least five that focus on energy efficiency technologies. … Continue reading Reflections on the IEA Ministerial →

Energy in Demand News, February 15-16, 2026

When it comes to climate and energy policies, we shouldn’t be shocked by any news coming out of Washington these days. But no doubt there is collective shock that the Trump administration has repealed the US government’s power to regulate climate change. Nearly 17 years after the Environmental Protection Agency declared that carbon dioxide and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 15-16, 2026 →

New energy law adopted in France — major shift in strategy

Forrest Crellin and America Hernandez write on the Reuter’s website about the shift in energy policy in France. Renewable energy targets (wind and solar) have been cut or loosened compared with previous ambitions while nuclear power is now central to the government’s decarbonisation strategy. France aims to boost decarbonised power production by 20% over … Continue reading New energy law adopted in France — major shift in strategy →

Energy in Demand News, February 8-9, 2026

There is mixed news on climate-related philanthropy this week. Michael Bloomberg’s donations on climate action have topped $3 billion over a decade, “including a recent boost to contributions to the UN’s climate body, as broader financial support slides in the Trump era,” reports the Financial Times. “The 83-year-old pledged nearly $270mn to two climate initiatives … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 8-9, 2026 →

Renewables continued to grow in 2025 and set records, while fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation stagnated

Manuel Planelles and Ignacio Fariza write on the EL PAÍS website how wind and solar power are expanding across the world’s major economies, as fossil-fuel consumption stagnates. Meanwhile, the US president derides wind turbines as ‘those damn things.’ What Trump can’t stop: Renewable energy is growing and setting world records In his disjointed speech … Continue reading Renewables continued to grow in 2025 and set records, while fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation stagnated →

Energy in Demand News, February 1-2, 2026

Prof. Steve Thomas, Emeritus Professor of Energy Policy, University of Greenwich wrote in a letter to the editor published in the Financial Times this week about the impact small modular reactors (SMRs) to be a major source of low-carbon energy. He questions the length of time to build SMRs. Even new ones in Russia have … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 1-2, 2026 →

Energy Highways: Germany and Denmark agree on joint development of the Bornholm Energy Island offshore wind project

At the North Sea Summit in Hamburg January 26th, Germany and Denmark reached an agreement on the Bornholm Energy Island project to develop offshore wind energy. This marks a first key delivery of the Energy Highways initiative set out as part of the European Grids Package published in December 2025. A first-of-its kind project, the wind farm links 3 GW … Continue reading Energy Highways: Germany and Denmark agree on joint development of the Bornholm Energy Island offshore wind project →

Energy in Demand News, January 25-26, 2026

The Financial Times reported this week that Norway’s oil fund wants companies to be allowed to water down their climate goals, arguing the alternative was for a major net zero initiative to fall apart. “The $2tn oil fund told the FT it feared companies could back away from the idea of science-backed climate targets unless … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 25-26, 2026 →

While AI uses a lot of energy, it can also make systems cleaner and smarter

Nir Kshetri, Professor of Management, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, writes on The Conversation website that the positive benefits from AI almost certainly will be much more important than the negative ones when it comes to improving the environment. Despite its steep environmental costs, AI might also help save the planet The rapid growth … Continue reading While AI uses a lot of energy, it can also make systems cleaner and smarter →