In an article on The Conversation website, Mira Manini Tiwari, Research Associate at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute discusses the impact of the EU’s NFR regulations, at a time when global, systemic policy effects are more important than ever EU efforts to measure companies’ environmental impacts have global effects. … Continue reading The EU’s non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations relating to sustainability have strong implications for the Majority World, the countries and territories outside Europe and North America where most people live
Category: Sustainable development
Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025
It was certainly disappointing that the UN negotiations for a global treaty on plastics pollution collapsed without an agreement. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and a number of other petrostates would not budge from their long-standing refusal to agree measures that address the production of plastic, agreeing only to waste management. It is not clear when negotiations … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 17-18, 2025
An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method
In Tübingen, Germany, TriqBriq is creating eco‑friendly homes from modular wooden blocks made with recycled materials, offering a low‑carbon alternative to concrete. In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Julia Mielke discusses the scheme. Eco-friendly homes from wooden building blocks A German city is building an eco-friendly public housing scheme using an innovative … Continue reading An eco-friendly public housing scheme in Germany using an innovative modular timber construction method
UN plastics treaty talks fail after US joins petrostates in blocking action
Writing on the Climate Home News website, Matteo Civillini discusses the collapse of the final round of UN talks to reach a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution after three years of negotiations, dealing a blow to multilateral decision-making. The UN talks ran into overtime, ending with a standoff over whether a treaty should … Continue reading UN plastics treaty talks fail after US joins petrostates in blocking action
Energy in Demand News, August 10-11, 2025
GHG emissions are “going through the roof” because of AI, according to an article on the New York Times website that explains how Big Tech’s net-zero goals are looking shaky. “Google’s greenhouse gas emissions rose by 11 percent in 2024 from the year before. Amazon’s were up by 6 percent. Microsoft’s fell slightly but remained … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 10-11, 2025
Remembering why developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution is necessary
Over 180 countries are now meeting in Geneva. The UN meeting is the culmination of several years of negotiating. In theory, delegates will agree on a global treaty by August 15. In an article on The Conversation website, Cat Acheson, Research Associate, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh; Alice Street, Senior Lecturer … Continue reading Remembering why developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution is necessary
Energy in Demand News, July 27-28, 2025
It is summer time in Europe but the news has not slowed down. The post below on the IEA is disturbing and we can all hope that the US remains a member of the IEA in order to make a valuable contribution to our sustainable energy future. There is a good report from SciencesPo on … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 27-28, 2025
Blog by Ellie Gabel: How infrastructure degradation impacts energy efficiency
Energy professionals, urban planners and policymakers are collaborating to fight persistent issues with outdated infrastructure. The U.S. demands modernization, primarily as power demands spike and efficiency drops. Systems will only continue to age and erode. What are the most prominent concerns jeopardizing electricity transmission, and what can you do to compensate for degrading equipment? Deterioration … Continue reading Blog by Ellie Gabel: How infrastructure degradation impacts energy efficiency
The EU lacks a comprehensive strategy to address cooling
In an article on the Atlantic Council website, Andrei Covatariu argues that if Europe fails to prepare for extreme heat, it will find itself in crisis after crisis—burning more fuel, spending more money, and drifting further from its climate and energy goals. Europe has a heating strategy—now it needs one for cooling For decades, … Continue reading The EU lacks a comprehensive strategy to address cooling
China’s energy transition: for ethnic minority communities, where they live, how they work and the cultural practices they depend on have all been shaped by state environmental policies, often without meaningful input or representation
In an article on The Conversation website, Reza Hasmath, Professor in Political Science, University of Alberta writes about the impact of China’s energy transition on its ethnic minorities. How China’s green transition is reshaping ethnic minority communities China has emerged as a global front-runner in the fight against climate change, with sweeping policies aimed at curbing … Continue reading China’s energy transition: for ethnic minority communities, where they live, how they work and the cultural practices they depend on have all been shaped by state environmental policies, often without meaningful input or representation
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 