Reports found many offsetting schemes do nothing to mitigate the climate crisis and biodiversity loss

Negative scientific and press reports on the efficacy of carbon credit projects has led to a ‘direct pullback in buyer investment’ in 2023. Patrick Greenfield discusses the issues in an article on the Guardian website. Market value of carbon offsets drops 61%, report finds The market for carbon offsets shrank dramatically last year, falling … Continue reading Reports found many offsetting schemes do nothing to mitigate the climate crisis and biodiversity loss →

Energy in Demand News, April 28, 2024

Economic damage from natural catastrophes is raising concern that some areas could be rendered uninsurable, according to Petra Hielkema, head of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (Eiopa), quoted in the Financial Times (behind a paywall). “The EU suffered more than €50bn in economic losses from natural catastrophes in both 2021 and 2022, according … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 28, 2024 →

Did the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings build momentum for transformative change in Africa?

In an article on the African Arguments website, an expert panel gives their verdict on whether the Spring Meetings offered Africa hope that climate finance will be expanded and reformed. Climate finance: Did the IMF/World Bank spring meetings move the dial? In a year in which climate finance will take centre stage in climate … Continue reading Did the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings build momentum for transformative change in Africa? →

Banks made big climate promises but a new study doubts they work

Using European Central Bank lending data, researchers said there was not evidence that voluntary commitments were effective in reducing emissions. Hundreds of banks, insurers and asset managers vowed to plow $130 trillion in capital into reducing carbon emissions and financing the energy transition as they introduced the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. But a … Continue reading Banks made big climate promises but a new study doubts they work →

Rats leaving a sinking ship: how the European Energy Charter helped energy efficiency

In an article in the March issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry, Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, looks at the evolution of the international Energy Charter Treaty and why the UK government has decided to withdraw from its obligations. Is the Energy Charter Treaty a sinking ship? Later this … Continue reading Rats leaving a sinking ship: how the European Energy Charter helped energy efficiency →

New rules will force U.S. firms to divulge role in warming the planet

US regulators approve significantly scaled back climate disclosure rule. In an article on The Conversation website Sehoon Kim, Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Florida, discusses why the requirements are weaker and what they mean for companies. For those of you wanting more, the Financial Times reports (behind a paywall) that ten US states petitioned … Continue reading New rules will force U.S. firms to divulge role in warming the planet →

New report discusses the challenges that Bangladesh is facing to adapt to climate change

The south Asian country is a world leader in climate adaptation, but without more funding the country will struggle to protect its people, a report from the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) warns. Thaslima Begum discusses the findings of the report in an article on the Guardian website. Why Bangladesh is … Continue reading New report discusses the challenges that Bangladesh is facing to adapt to climate change →

The coming months will determine if COP29 will be a success and whether benefits will trickle down to vulnerable communities in developing countries

Evans Njewa, chair of the Least Developed Countries group and an official in Malawi’s environment ministry, writes on the Climate Home News website argues that rich nations always say they need their parliaments approval for climate finance at COPs – now is the time to start For Cop29 to succeed, rich nations must get … Continue reading The coming months will determine if COP29 will be a success and whether benefits will trickle down to vulnerable communities in developing countries →

Energy in Demand News, January 7, 2024

With the devastation of floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, forest fires and more, we know much more needs to be done to mitigate GHG emissions. Many commentators were concerned after COP28 last year that there was no sense of urgency. Read once more the comment from Fiona Harvey, published on EiD in December, on the need for … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 7, 2024 →

Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa

Mansoor Hamayun, the co-founder and chief executive of Bboxx, started out with a university project to bring solar power to a few villages in Rwanda. Now he is set to expand tenfold across sub-Saharan Africa. In an article on the Guardian website, Jillian Ambrose discusses what Mr. Hamayun is trying to achieve. ‘Electricity is … Continue reading Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa →