Energy in Demand, March 29-30, 2026

Oil and gas companies including Norway’s Equinor and a lobby group backed by Shell, TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips have called for the EU to drop an effective ban on future drilling in the Arctic, according to the Financial Times. More than 10 oil and gas companies and industry groups seized on arguments about energy security in … Continue reading Energy in Demand, March 29-30, 2026 →

Energy transition: one German village shows lead in energy independence

While war in the Middle East has sent oil prices soaring and households bracing for higher bills, one tiny German village has spent 30 years making itself immune to exactly this kind of shock. Beatrice Christofaro writes about the village in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. The German village running on its … Continue reading Energy transition: one German village shows lead in energy independence →

Vienna’s radical parking reform: fewer cars, more green space

Conscious of reaching climate goals and strapped for space, some cities are reconsidering how much they dedicate to parking. Dave Braneck writes on the Deutsche Welle website how Austria's capital, Vienna, is streets ahead. Vienna swaps parking for green space Anyone who has had the displeasure of finding a parking spot in a major … Continue reading Vienna’s radical parking reform: fewer cars, more green space →

Plans for Thames River to be the source for heat pump in central London

A news item on the BBC News website describes the plan to use the Thames River as the source for low-carbon heating in London. Plans to power London landmarks with Thames heat A new £72.7million communal heat network could provide low-carbon heating for the National Theatre and other London landmarks near Waterloo and the … Continue reading Plans for Thames River to be the source for heat pump in central London →

Clean heat at city scale: the case for giant heat pumps

As towns and cities around the world seek to decarbonise, many are deciding to purchase large heat pumps, which can attach to district heating networks. In an article on the BBC News website, Chris Baraniuk discusses some of the latest developments. Meet the biggest heat pumps in the world The pipe that will supply … Continue reading Clean heat at city scale: the case for giant heat pumps →

In praise of Paris’ climate and energy transition

Jimmy Thomson, Editor-In-Chief of Canada’s National Observer, was obviously in Paris recently and impressed with how the city has transitioned to improve its sustainability. The city’s efforts to transform its downtown into an active-transportation Mecca had attracted me on a pilgrimage across the world to see what it looks and feels like. You can tell … Continue reading In praise of Paris’ climate and energy transition →

Toronto uses Lake Ontario for its cooling network

Abdul Matin Sarfraz writes on the National Observer website about the world’s largest deep lake water cooling network. While more than 100 buildings are connected, two hospitals are saving 15 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power more than 1,300 homes by parting with older chillers and rooftop towers that consume far more … Continue reading Toronto uses Lake Ontario for its cooling network →

How cities can prepare for the “adaptation gap”

In an article on The Conversation website, Paul O'Hare, Lecturer in Human Geography and Urban Development, Manchester Metropolitan University gives his views on how cities should prepare to address the impact of climate change. Five ways to make cities more resilient to climate change Climate breakdown poses immense threats to global economies, societies and … Continue reading How cities can prepare for the “adaptation gap” →

Air quality in Paris significantly improving

Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes. Naema Ahmed and Chico Harlan discuss the improvements in an article on the Washington Post website. Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change. Over the past 20 years, Paris has … Continue reading Air quality in Paris significantly improving →

New ranking of global cities that highlights Europe’s ability to balance sustainability and growth in its urban centres

In an article on The Conversation website, Pascual Berrone, Head of Strategic Management Department and Chair of Sustainability and Business Strategy, IESE Business School (Universidad de Navarra) and Joan Enric Ricart, Professor of Strategic Management, Chair of Strategic Management, IESE Business School (Universidad de Navarra) discuss the new ranking of 183 cites in 92 countries. … Continue reading New ranking of global cities that highlights Europe’s ability to balance sustainability and growth in its urban centres →