Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has recently published two important reports. Mobilizing citizens to invest in energy efficiency One example of a way for citizens to contribute to the low-carbon energy transition is by investing in energy efficiency (EE). However, there are still multiple barriers that make the socially optimal level of adoption … Continue reading Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre →

European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport

The European Commission is proposing more sustainable travel, led by efforts to make Europe’s rail system the default mode of transport. Daniel Boffey discusses in an article on The Guardian website. The Commission’s press release on this proposal is available here. Faster trains and cheaper tickets to boost European rail travel in new strategy … Continue reading European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport →

New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability

Most Europeans live in cities and cities are Europe’s economic, cultural, and political hubs. Cities face environmental and climate challenges but also hold keys to realise Europe’s sustainability ambitions. Two new assessments on urban sustainability, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today, combine several environment and climate themes, calling for better integration of policies … Continue reading New EEA reports on key role of cities in Europe’s transition to sustainability →

New EEA report on EU’s progress of phasing down the use of F-gases

The supply and use of climate-warming fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) rose slightly across the European Union and United Kingdom in 2020, according to the latest annual update on the EU’s progress of phasing down the use of F-gases published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) this week. EU remains on track to phase-down use … Continue reading New EEA report on EU’s progress of phasing down the use of F-gases →

Recent research finds that women aged 30-45 are particularly conscious of energy efficiency issues

New data from proptech firm houzen has shown that women are driving change within the home, leading the country’s sustainability retrofits. Robin Whitlock discusses the new data in an article on the Renewable Energy Magazine website. Women aged 30-45 leading the charge for sustainable retrofits in UK homes finds new survey According to research … Continue reading Recent research finds that women aged 30-45 are particularly conscious of energy efficiency issues →

The chemicals sector has largely slipped under the radar when it comes to climate

The chemicals sector is quite complicated. Only about half of the fossil fuels that the industry consumes are burned for their energy. The rest is used as feedstock for products such as plastics with the emissions released only when these products reach the end of their lives, for example, when waste plastic packaging or an … Continue reading The chemicals sector has largely slipped under the radar when it comes to climate →

In Sweden, a movement advocating avoiding flying has gained influence since 2016 and has started to change the way travel is portrayed in the Swedish media

Recent research shows that there are shifting ideas and assumptions about holidays by plane in Swedish society. While flying is still widely presented as desirable, changes in some media coverage show the influence of the flight-free movement and illustrate that different perspectives of what constitutes a good life under climate change are gaining some influence. … Continue reading In Sweden, a movement advocating avoiding flying has gained influence since 2016 and has started to change the way travel is portrayed in the Swedish media →

New EEA report on creating an economy that can deliver prosperity and sustainability

Creating a more resilient and sustainable future will require Europe to reimagine its economic model, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report published this week. The report highlights opportunities for Europe to go further in creating an economy that can deliver prosperity and sustainability. Creating a resilient economy within environmental limits Reducing … Continue reading New EEA report on creating an economy that can deliver prosperity and sustainability →

Circular economy: no silver bullet but the benefits could be significant

Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website about the issues relating to moving to a circular economy. What are your views? Circular economy: Could rethinking design transform the world? Some argue that switching to a "circular economy" is crucial when it comes to climate protection and sustainability. But what would it entail? And … Continue reading Circular economy: no silver bullet but the benefits could be significant →

To meet long-term carbon emissions targets, we must stop demolishing buildings should start using the carbon spent in the past to avoid the emission of more in the present

Meeting net zero targets for buildings, an entirely new approach is needed. Charles Gillott, PhD student in Engineering at University of Sheffield, in an article on The Conversation website, says we must stop demolishing buildings and replacing them with new ones. What are your views? We have reusable cups, bags and bottles: so why … Continue reading To meet long-term carbon emissions targets, we must stop demolishing buildings should start using the carbon spent in the past to avoid the emission of more in the present →