New EEA report on progress made in EU to reduce GHG emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions dropped by two percent last year across the European Union, compared to 2021 levels according to estimates in the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) ‘Trends and Projections’ report published this week. However, despite gains made in emissions reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency, the report cautions that accelerated action is urgently needed … Continue reading New EEA report on progress made in EU to reduce GHG emissions

Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023

We are now about two months away from COP28 in Dubai. All of us are anxious that real progress is made because the signs of climate crisis are growing and there definitely is a need to ramp up ambition and action. We were discouraged this week when EU member states this week adopted a common … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023

Study shows that the carbon impact of the richest people’s driving habits have damaged the climate more than “those of the poorest”

The UK climate campaign group Possible calls for ‘polluter pays’ tax based on vehicle size as analysis shows that today’s SUVs often emit more carbon emissions than much older cars. Peter Walker discusses the research in an article on the Guardian website.   SUVs emit more climate damaging gas than older cars do, study finds … Continue reading Study shows that the carbon impact of the richest people’s driving habits have damaged the climate more than “those of the poorest”

Germany is famed as a world leader in recycling – and Kiel “has some of the most weird and workable plans in the country to deal with its trash”

When it comes to recycling, Kiel has pulled ahead of the crowd, with its ban on single-use items, plans for leftover meals and innovative ideas for discarded human hair. In an article on the Guardian website, Ajit Niranjan discusses the lessons we can all learn from what is happening in Kiel.   The zero-waste city: … Continue reading Germany is famed as a world leader in recycling – and Kiel “has some of the most weird and workable plans in the country to deal with its trash”

European companies producing the many technologies that help improve energy efficiency feel left out by policymakers in Brussels

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer writes on the EURACTIV website about how the energy efficiency industry in Europe was left out of the European Commission’s proposal for a Net-Zero Industry ACT (NZIA), tabled in March this year, yet has so much potential to contribute, according to analysis from the IEA. What are your views?   ‘Golden era’ … Continue reading European companies producing the many technologies that help improve energy efficiency feel left out by policymakers in Brussels

Solar mystery from early 20th century

In article on The Conversation website, Sugandha Srivastav, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Economics at the University of Oxford unravels a mystery “what if.” You should enjoy this little-known story.   If the first solar entrepreneur hadn’t been kidnapped, would fossil fuels have dominated the 20th century the way they did? One argument put forward … Continue reading Solar mystery from early 20th century

Governments around the world will need to impose tighter regulations if the problems caused by air pollution are to be tackled

Although almost everyone in the world now breathes air that is polluted in some way, the unfolding story of air pollution is one of environmental inequality. In an article on the BBC News website, Kamala Thiagarajan discusses the issues and the possible solutions to the growing problem of air pollution globally.   Why clean air … Continue reading Governments around the world will need to impose tighter regulations if the problems caused by air pollution are to be tackled

Paris 50 degrees: a full-scale exercise in the 13th and 19th arrondissements

On October 13, 2023, the capital staged a full-scale crisis exercise to deal with the future heatwaves that await us. "Paris 50°": this is the name of the crisis exercise that the capital launched. Faced with global warming and heatwaves that are likely to multiply and intensify in the coming years, the City of Paris … Continue reading Paris 50 degrees: a full-scale exercise in the 13th and 19th arrondissements

New IEA report on electricity grids and secure energy transitions

Following the report by EEA-ACER on power systems this week, the IEA has also come out on a new report on electricity grids. The first-of-its-kind global study finds the world must add or replace 80 million km of grids by 2040, equal to all grids globally today, to meet national climate targets and support energy … Continue reading New IEA report on electricity grids and secure energy transitions

New joint EEA-ACER report on need for more flexibility Iin the EU power system to ramp up renewable power capacity

EU Member States need to massively ramp up their renewable power capacity in the coming years. This increase in renewables from variable sources, such as wind and solar, will also increase the need for ‘flexibility’ in the EU electricity system. A joint report released this week by two EU agencies, EEA and ACER, demonstrates how … Continue reading New joint EEA-ACER report on need for more flexibility Iin the EU power system to ramp up renewable power capacity