New IISD report: G20 backtracks on fossil fuel funding phase-out

G20 governments are still spending more than half a trillion USD on oil, gas, and coal each year—and the pandemic has likely undone any progress on phasing out this support. In Doubling Back and Doubling Down: G20 Scorecard on Fossil Fuel Funding, researchers considered recovery commitments and pre-pandemic policies to rank G20 countries' progress in … Continue reading New IISD report: G20 backtracks on fossil fuel funding phase-out →

To reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible not all low-carbon energy sources are equally useful

Simone Abram, Alton Horsfall and Andrew Crossland from Durham University write on The Conversation website argue that only talking about decarbonisation obscures the inherent choice between energy pathways. What are your views? 'Decarbonisation' may be the wrong goal for energy – here's why Electricity generated by nuclear power plants, wind turbines and solar panels … Continue reading To reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible not all low-carbon energy sources are equally useful →

Recovery packages heavily weighted to support legacy fossil fuel energy

Tim McManan-Smith writes on the energyst website about a new report that the weight of support for the fossil fuel sector from announced stimulus packages shows the persisting institutional bias in favour of preserving a legacy sector. “This is very likely to prove myopic, economically-speaking, and misaligned with G20 countries’ decarbonisation commitments under the Paris … Continue reading Recovery packages heavily weighted to support legacy fossil fuel energy →

As regions struggle with storms and wildfires, microgrids puts communities on the path to self-reliance

Whether it is Australia or western United States or many other global regions, disasters have meant a struggle in providing needed electricity. Jeanie Chin, Manager, Centre for Grid Innovation at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology writes on The Conversation website about the benefits of microgrids. Storms and wildfires can cut electricity, but microgrids … Continue reading As regions struggle with storms and wildfires, microgrids puts communities on the path to self-reliance →

What it will take for Africa to go green and disentangle itself from the business of exporting fossil fuels abroad

As Africa develops faster, countries are shifting their focus to investment in renewable energy. The director of the Nairobi-based think tank Power Shift Africa explains how the continent can embark on a journey toward a green future. Sam Baker interviewed Mohamed Adow in an article on the Deutsche Welle website 'We are not locked … Continue reading What it will take for Africa to go green and disentangle itself from the business of exporting fossil fuels abroad →

South Korea is using the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to kickstart environmentally sustainable economic growth

It is encouraging to see the positive steps taken by the South Korean government to create its own Green New Deal. The authors, from Australia, state that Australia has much to learn from South Korea’s effort. Maybe we all do. South Korea’s efforts are discussed in an article on the Conversation website. The authors are: … Continue reading South Korea is using the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to kickstart environmentally sustainable economic growth →

German WindEnergie Association expects to play key role in producing hydrogen

There is a lot of talk recently about the importance of green hydrogen in our low carbon energy transition. An article on the FuelCellsWorks website discusses the reaction of the German WindEnergie Association to the national hydrogen strategy in Germany. What are your views? Wind Energy can Turn Hydrogen Green as Early as 2020 … Continue reading German WindEnergie Association expects to play key role in producing hydrogen →

This year’s EU Responsible Islands Prizes go to . . .

Recognising achievements in local renewables production for power, heating, cooling and transport, prizes are awarded to discover and reward European islands that were taking real steps towards building proper sustainable communities. This year’s winners were announced in a news item on the Renews website. Danish islands and Orkney take EU sustainability prize The Danish … Continue reading This year’s EU Responsible Islands Prizes go to . . . →

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia scored poorly in terms of energy transition readiness

All countries need to review their policies to ensure they are on the right path for the low-carbon energy transition. Fadhila El Discha writes on the ASEAN Post website that Indonesia has much to do to reach the levels of readiness of their regional neighbours. Indonesia needs a better clean energy policy While ASEAN … Continue reading In Southeast Asia, Indonesia scored poorly in terms of energy transition readiness →

The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050

The summer of climate disasters in Australia has led to people seriously reflecting on how to address the situation. Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute, writes in The Guardian that there are 30 years to solve the hard problems, but no time to avoid the easy solutions. Putting the 'net' into net-zero … Continue reading The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050 →