“Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability

With carefully designed debt-for-climate swaps and support from international institutions, developing countries could expand their finance for desperately needed climate mitigation and adaptation actions and remove some of their heavy debt burden. Soyoung Oh, Junior Research Fellow, The Fletcher School at Tufts University discusses her views in an article on The Conversation website. How … Continue reading “Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability →

A citizens panel learned how to eliminate carbon emissions from homes and helped design solutions they thought would work for owner-occupiers

Jacob Ainscough, Senior Research Associate in Environmental Governance, Lancaster University and Rebecca Willis, Professor in Energy and Climate Governance, Lancaster Environment Centre at Lancaster University write on The Conversation website about the views of tenants in a study they undertook. A panel was set up. Participants spent 25 hours over seven sessions, both online and … Continue reading A citizens panel learned how to eliminate carbon emissions from homes and helped design solutions they thought would work for owner-occupiers →

New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) recently released a briefing titled “International Investment Governance and Achieving a Just Zero-Carbon Future,” available in both English and French. The briefing discusses how the current international investment regime is hostile to states’ ability to address the climate crisis and will deter, delay or water down states’ climate-related … Continue reading New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future →

EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation

As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation →

New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption

GHG emissions and energy consumption rose in 2021 due mostly to Europe’s post-pandemic recovery, according to the latest ‘Trends and Projections’ report published this week by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Most EU Member States successfully achieved the EU’s 2020 climate and energy targets and are now turning their sights toward climate neutrality while also … Continue reading New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption →

Can COP 27 help close the emissions gap?

The window to reign in climate-wrecking emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is fast closing, says a new UN report. Societal transformation may be the only way to avoid a coming calamity. Stuart Braun discusses the recent report in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Climate crisis: Widening emissions gap threatens … Continue reading Can COP 27 help close the emissions gap? →

Twenty high risk countries threatening to halt debt payments

The countries want their collective $685 billion in debts forgiven so the money can be invested in climate projects. Lisa Friedman discusses latest developments in an article on The New York Times website. 20 Nations at High Risk From Global Warming Might Halt Debt Payments Twenty countries most vulnerable to climate change are considering … Continue reading Twenty high risk countries threatening to halt debt payments →

Blog from Erik Gudbjerg: High energy cost leads to new habits, they can also reduce global warming

The Danes' energy supply has been hit by the perfect storm at the moment. Together with the rest of Europe, we want to reduce our dependence on Russian energy so that Russia has a harder time financing their war against Ukraine. However, although huge savings and shifts to other forms of energy have already been … Continue reading Blog from Erik Gudbjerg: High energy cost leads to new habits, they can also reduce global warming →

The transition to “smart cities”

Europe is making good progress in getting urban areas into the digital age. A survey in 10 EU member states found that 88% of cities have started their digital transformation and that 69% were planning to invest in tech solutions in the next three years. Molly Killeen discusses latest developments in an article on the … Continue reading The transition to “smart cities” →

France’s energy transition: funding needs to significantly increase to meet long-term goals

According to the Institute for Climate Economics, households, companies and the government would have to invest between €13 billion and €30 billion per year between 2021 and 2030 to stay on course for carbon neutrality. Audrey Garric discusses in an artlcle on the Le Monde website. France needs to dramatically boost spending to achieve … Continue reading France’s energy transition: funding needs to significantly increase to meet long-term goals →