When the air gets cleaner in cities, children’s lungs recover

In an article on the BBC News website, Smitha Mundasad discusses how children’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after the most polluting vehicles were restricted from entering London, a study has found. Scientists stunned by children's lung recovery in ultra low emission zone Scientists say they have been "stunned" by how quickly young children's … Continue reading When the air gets cleaner in cities, children’s lungs recover →

Energy in Demand News, August 16-17, 2026

The Financial Times, a newspaper of record for business and politics, has become almost passionate about climate change. “Even now, when weather records are being broken, when climate change is demonstrably here, not in the future, we seem frozen. We still go about our carbon-greedy lives: snapping up the last air-conditioning unit, booking another flight, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, August 16-17, 2026 →

The climate has changed. Now our cities must change too

In an article on the Deutsche Welle website, Sarah Steffen argues that climate adaptation is no longer optional: cities must redesign themselves for conditions that are already changing, while continuing to cut emissions. Western Europe has recorded its hottest-ever June and July, and extreme weather from drought to storms is here to stay. How can … Continue reading The climate has changed. Now our cities must change too →

New report on meeting New York City’s energy demand challenge

A new report, Meeting New York City’s Energy Demand Challenge, from New York City Comptroller Mark Levine recommends that the city adopt a strategy in which city-owned property doubles as an energy asset capable of generating electricity, storing energy, supporting electric vehicle charging, participating in energy markets, and strengthening neighbourhood resilience. In other words, the … Continue reading New report on meeting New York City’s energy demand challenge →

Energy in Demand News, July 5-6, 2026

In Canada this week, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen urged decisive action by quoting a famous hockey credo: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." The Trump administration is moving to gut energy efficiency rules for home appliances that are proven to cut demand for power and lower utility bills. The Washington Post … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 5-6, 2026 →

The oil shock is a wake-up call for car-dependent cities

Christopher J. Greyson-Gaito, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McMaster University writes on The Conversation website about using the oil price shock as a wake-up call to build more resilient, less car-dependent cities. Oil price shocks have exposed car‑dependent cities. Here’s what governments can doThe recent Israeli-United States war with Iran sent oil … Continue reading The oil shock is a wake-up call for car-dependent cities →

Energy in Demand News, June 28-29, 2026

The Financial Times reports that Elon Musk’s SpaceX “was awarded the lowest possible environmental, social and governance rating by index provider MSCI [Morgan Stanley Capital International] ahead of the company’s record $75bn public float this month. The triple C assessment means SpaceX has the same score as that awarded to the Russian state on MSCI’s … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 28-29, 2026 →

Urban heat Is the new climate frontline

Much of Europe has suffered recently from a record breaking heatwave. As heat waves grow more frequent and fierce, cities worldwide are racing to cool streets and reshape urban life, as Martin Kuebler discusses in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. He discusses how cities around the world are adapting to increasingly dangerous urban … Continue reading Urban heat Is the new climate frontline →

The world’s great cities are becoming heat islands

In an article on The Conversation website, Chloe Duteil, Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Histories, Languages and Cultures Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Liverpool; Daniel Cumming, Post Doctoral Fellow, Melting Metropolis, Queens College, CUNY; and Jon Winder, Postdoctoral Research Associate, History, University of Liverpool about how extreme heat is becoming a defining … Continue reading The world’s great cities are becoming heat islands →

Cooling cities means tackling traffic as well as buildings

In an article on The Conversation website, Zhonghua Zheng Assistant Professor in Data Science and Environmental Analytics, University of Manchester discusses how traffic is not just a source of pollution and emissions—it is also a significant contributor to urban heat, and reducing vehicle traffic can help cities adapt to climate change. How traffic makes … Continue reading Cooling cities means tackling traffic as well as buildings →